Is it a smokescreen or is it legitimate? That is the question the rest of the league will have to try to figure out as the New York Giants reel from their Dexter Lawrence trade.
You’d think the rumor mill would take a night off after a blockbuster like that, but it doesn’t rest, and apparently neither does the Kayvon Thibodeaux trade chatter. At least this time it’s in Big Blue’s favor, depending on where you stand on the 25-year-old pass rusher.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the consensus around the league is that the G-Men are less inclined to trade Thibs after the Lawrence trade. This comes after months of teams calling about a potential deal. Of course, this doesn't rule anything out -- until KT retires a Giant or is actually traded, he will always be in talks -- but it makes the scenario of them moving him this offseason unlikely.
Giants sending different message on Kayvon Thibodeaux after blockbuster
Thibodeaux trade talks are nothing new. They’ve been around since before Abdul Carter became the team’s third overall pick last season, and nothing suggests they’ve quieted since.
Even looking at last season's trade deadline, his name was in talks as Joe Schoen could have dealt the 2022 fifth overall pick to a handful of teams interested. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers (among others) were rumored to be monitoring his situation closely, but nothing transpired.
And that’s where things get slightly more interesting.
With Lawrence gone, it does become harder to justify moving Thibs, for locker room purposes if anything. That would send a terrible message to the guys and could result in a mutiny.
The only reason Schoen would trade Kayvon now is to add more draft capital. That was a bigger issue when they didn’t have two top-10 picks or a third-rounder, but it figures to be less of one with the addition of the 10th overall pick. They still don’t have a pick in the third, but it’d also be a pipe dream to expect the former Oregon standout to get Big Blue a third back.
If Schoen can pull out the L.L. Bean jacket and fleece another team for some premium draft capital, then the conversation changes. But for now, if no one’s offering anything close to the asking price, it feels like he’s safe... for the moment.
If nothing worthwhile gets their attention, there’s no real reason to force anything.
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