Is Kayvon Thibodeaux Actually a Trade Candidate?

Once Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter became the leading candidate to be the New York Giants’ first-round pick, general manager Joe Schoen’s first selection in East Rutherford found himself in the rumor mill.

Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn’t yet lived up to his draft capital, and now that Carter is the Giants’ newest star, he – as the third-best edge rusher on the roster – is expendable.

That doesn’t mean New York will budge. The Giants need to look somewhat competitive in 2025, and one can never have too many pass rushers. It already moved to secure Thibodeaux’s spot in its plans, too. In accepting his fifth-year option, Thibodeaux is movable, but he’s much more movable in 2026, where he’d provide $14.75 million in cap relief with no dead cap charge.

Even so, the Giants edge rusher was listed as a trade candidate for two NFC teams in Bleacher Report’s trade big board.

“Carter has the potential to be a franchise-caliber sack artist, while the Giants gave Burns a five-year, $141 million extension after trading for him,” Kristopher Knox wrote. “Thibodeaux, the fifth overall pick in 2022, could end up being the odd man out of New York's long-term plans.

“Now would be a great time for teams to inquire about Thibodeaux's availability. He's coming off an injury-impacted season (wrist), but he had 11.5 sacks in 2023 and won't turn 25 until December.”

Thibodeaux has first-round pedigree to his name, has embraced the arrival of Carter, and has pass-rushing peripherals that are more encouraging than his questionable sack totals. There’s every chance he gets better in Year 4, and with so much talent around him, those odds are probably better than they were before the draft.

Knox listed two NFC teams, the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers, as landing spots for Thibodeaux’s services. While it wouldn’t necessarily impact a potential swap, the Giants will host Green Bay at some point this season.

“The Carolina Panthers could look to pair Thibodeaux with second-round rookie Nic Scourton and third-round rookie Princely Umanmielen to form an exciting young edge rotation,” Knox wrote. “Jadeveon Clowney was Carolina's top edge-rusher in 2024, but he turned 32 in February.

“The Packers, who didn't add edge help until taking Barryn Sorrell in Round 4, should also see if Thibodeaux can be had. Perhaps they could acquire him for a package that includes Jaire Alexander.”

Thibodeaux makes sense as a trade candidate for several teams. Outside of being a surplus, he makes far less sense for New York to deal in 2025.