The Kayvon Thibodeaux trade rumors are getting a bit tiresome for New York Giants fans. John Harbaugh came in and pretty much put all this nonsense to bed, and in the early part of training camp, Thibodeaux has made sure that they didn't regret that declaration.
But between Thibodeaux playing on his fifth-year club option and the Brian Burns and Abdul Carter of it all, the former Oregon Duck is simply going to remain in trade talks, at least amongst the general public, until some sort of resolution is officially reached on his long-term future with the Giants.
And the latest tentacle of that unfortunate reality is emerging Atlanta Falcons star edge rusher Jalon Walker tearing his ACL during practice earlier this week. Of course, a team in need of a defensive end HAS to be thinking of trading for Thibodeaux, right?
Well, the Giants have no business bailing their NFC foe out amidst their panic and desperation. Unless they throw Joe Schoen an offer that he can't refuse, and that even he couldn't mess up.
Giants can't let Falcons' injury woes swoon them into Kayvon Thibodeaux trade
Atlanta losing Walker for the year is simply devastating for their defense, and with fellow young edge rusher James Pearce Jr. potentially getting suspended for a serious off-the-field incident earlier this offseason, the Falcons may be lost for solutions on the edge come the regular season.
As of right now, Azeez Ojulari is in line to get serious rotational reps on the edge, and he could even start if Roger Goodell hands Pearce Jr. a suspension. That is a scary position to be in for a team looking to compete, as Giants fans understand better than anyone.
This need could push Falcons GM Ian Cunningham to pick up the phone and start calling around, looking for edge help. With the NFC South wide open and so many other promising pieces in Atlanta, the front office may panic a bit and be eager to acquire someone who can help right away.
And Thibodeaux, both due to his immense ability and the general narrative surrounding his perceived availability, could be an intriguing centerpiece in a potential trade.
What would the Giants get from that, though?
With John Harbaugh in the building, a handful of crafty free agent pickups and a promising young core, New York competing in the NFC East, or at least for a wildcard spot, really isn't that far-fetched. And Thibodeaux being a big rotational piece is a crucial part of this team's potential to improve.
Ultimately, this would just help a fellow NFC team and provide no concrete benefit for Harbaugh and Schoen during the 2026 NFL season. That said, the Falcons could potentially sweeten the deal enough that the Giants at least keep them on the line to hear them out. But it'd have to be tantalizing.
Common trade packages for Thibodeaux seem to center around a third-round pick, with either a low-end player or a late-round pick attached. Sometimes, they even involve the Giants giving up a late-rounder to offset said team giving up a third. To me, and hopefully New York, that is not enough.
Anything that doesn't start with a second-round pick should simply be a non-starter for the Giants. More than they need a late Day 2 pick or worse, Harbaugh's team needs Thibodeaux and his ability on the field for Dennard Wilson's defense.
So, while it may feel obvious to start linking Thibodeaux to the Falcons following their latest blow at the edge rusher spot, it really doesn't make sense for Schoen and Harbaugh to entertain a deal if it isn't one that they can't refuse.
Every player has a price. But the price for Thibodeaux is higher than most want to admit.
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