The unthinkable has finally happened in the NFL world: New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is no longer finding himself in stories involving trade candidates.
Your eyes do not deceive you.
Pro Football Focus omitted Thibodeaux from such a list earlier this week, a shocking development after the Giants used the No. 5 pick on Ohio State’s Arvell Reese.
For now, maybe Giants fans can stop wondering if or when Thibodeaux will find a new home. Not that we expect things to stay that way.
A Kayvon Thibodeaux trade still feels inevitable
If speculation regarding a Thibodeaux trade truly stops mounting, the reality is that it doesn’t have much to do with the man himself.
The Giants have already confirmed that they intend to use Reese, an All-American edge rusher, primarily on the inside.
Thibodeaux, meanwhile, will remain on the edge alongside Abdul Carter and Brian Burns. Carter, last year’s No. 3 pick, is obviously safe. Burns, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to the Giants following the Dexter Lawrence trade.
That only leaves Thibodeaux, who is playing on his fifth-year option. Â
If the Giants are out of the playoff race when late October arrives, that’s when trading Thibodeaux makes the most sense.
It remains entirely possible that the Giants could extend Thibodeaux within the coming months. But with how many edge rushers the team already has, is such a move worth it? In fact, Joe Schoen’s contract extension could have the most significant impact on Thibodeaux’s future in New York.
How Joe Schoen impacts Kayvon Thibodeaux’s Giants future
John Harbaugh didn’t draft Thibodeaux, but Schoen did. Barring a completely unexpected move between now and next March, Schoen will be the Giants’ lead football executive when the 2027 league year begins.
Schoen’s extension is relevant because it means a new general manager or president of football operations wouldn’t be deciding on a Thibodeaux extension. Instead, it would be Schoen, who has overlapped with Thibodeaux since 2022.
There have been no credible rumors of late that Thibodeaux and the Giants plan to work out a new deal before training camp. Thibodeaux also has not signaled that he would skip training camp while awaiting an extension.
Not that Thibodeaux has much leverage — and remember, your bank account suffers if you hold out.
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