Not too long ago, the assumption was simple: if the New York Giants took Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall, Kayvon Thibodeaux was long gone. Bags packed. With Brian Burns already traded for and Carter billed as Micah Parsons 2.0, it felt like a clean break was coming. A trade, a reboot, a new edge identity. But that’s not how Joe Schoen sees it.
On Thursday night, shortly after making Carter the newest face of Big Blue’s defense, Schoen told reporters the team will exercise the fifth-year option on Thibodeaux, guaranteeing him through 2026. On the surface, it looked like a vote of confidence. But dig a little deeper, and it might just be something else: leverage.
Because this move doesn’t shut the door on a Thibodeaux trade—it just adds a longer runway and more control. The Giants didn’t make a long-term commitment. They made a strategic one.
Giants keep Kayvon… for now. But don’t rule anything out
There was a very real reason to think Thibodeaux’s time in New York might’ve been winding down. Despite logging 11.5 sacks in 2023, he’s been inconsistent, streaky, and a bit of a mystery in terms of long-term value. With Carter now in the building and Brian Burns signed to a massive deal, it’s only fair to wonder if the Giants are hedging here.
So why pick up the option? Simple—flexibility. The guaranteed year gives Schoen and the front office more time to evaluate and more ammo if trade calls come in. It’s a move that helps them, whether Thibodeaux becomes a foundational piece or a valuable asset to dangle.
Schoen is on the record saying: “You can’t have enough pass rushers." And he’s not wrong. But that also doesn’t mean they’ll keep all of them. This isn’t a declaration of permanence—it’s a statement of control.
In the meantime, the G-Men roll into 2025 with Carter, Thibodeaux, Burns, and Dexter Lawrence forming one of the most terrifying front sevens in the league. It’s the kind of group that wins games, creates turnovers, and masks secondary flaws.
A few weeks ago, people asked if Carter made Thibodeaux expendable. Maybe he still does. But now, the Giants aren’t scrambling to decide—they’ve bought time, bought leverage, and kept the door open.
Whether Kayvon’s next big play is in blue or elsewhere, the Giants will make that call on their terms.