The incessant trade chatter surrounding New York Giants edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux isn't going anywhere. The Giants would have a glaring need on the edge if they were to move on from the former first-round pick, but that won't stop mock trades from popping up on a near-daily basis.
We've made it clear that trading Thibodeaux isn't the best option for the G-Men, barring an overpay from another team. But even if the Giants choose to keep him around, they're still left with the problem of his looming contract extension.
Thibodeaux is entering the final year of his rookie contract after the team picked up his fifth-year option. If New York chooses not to trade him, they'll likely pursue a contract extension. The expected value of that deal could go a long way in determining whether general manager Joe Schoen is willing to deal the popular trade target.
Giants' looming Kayvon Thibodeaux extension could determine trade decision
In a recent ESPN article detailing key contract extension updates around the NFL, Giants insider Jordan Raanan broke down New York's standing with Thibodeaux.
Raanan said, "It appears the Giants are going to make Thibodeaux play it out. There hasn't been any talk of an extension. He knows it's a big season for him after two injury-plagued years."
Delaying the decision, as Raanan indicated the Giants intend to do, is a risky decision. If Thibodeaux has another up-and-down year, the Giants risk losing him for nothing.
Still just 25 years old, Thibodeaux has shown the ability to be a productive pass rusher in the NFL. While he had just 2.5 sacks in 2025, he produced 11.5 in 2023, his only full season. He's taken on a smaller role as the Giants' third pass rusher after the additions of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, but he's still an impactful player for the G-Men.
Thibodeaux will cost $14.751 million against the cap on his fifth-year option in 2025. Based on recent deals at the position and the player's production, he'd likely make between $15 million and $20 million per year on his next contract. That would put him at around the 20th-highest-paid edge defender in the NFL.
After a down year in 2025, nobody can blame the Giants for waiting on signing Thibodeaux to an extension. But if they decide not to trade him this offseason, they're diving into the wide range of possibilities that his 2026 season could produce.
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