After an exciting start to the offseason, the calendar has flipped to April, which means it’s officially Draft SZN. The New York Giants figure to be big players on draft night, acting as gatekeepers for a handful of top-tier prospects like Sonny Styles, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Francis Mauigoa, and Caleb Downs.
Even with a revamped coaching staff and key free agent signings, there are still plenty of holes to fill. The Giants need a starting right guard, a complement to Malik Nabers, a sidekick next to Dexter Lawrence (if he's still on the team), and could use some secondary reinforcements. What they don’t need is more pass-rushing help. At least on the surface.
But don’t tell that to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, who sees edge rusher as a surprising need for New York on draft night. Ballentine writes:
"The Giants using one of their first three picks on an edge-rusher would be shocking at first, but there are a few reasons why it could actually make sense. ...
As good as Burns and Carter are, Thibodeaux still played 72 percent of the defensive snaps. Drafting any of these three pass-rushing specialists would give the Giants a dynamic third rusher and facilitate a Thibodeaux trade elsewhere."
Giants’ unexpected pass-rush need isn’t as crazy as it sounds
The argument makes a lot of sense. Teams can never have too many guys getting after the quarterback, and with Thibs entering the final year of his rookie deal with an extension looming, he’s likely already priced himself out of North Jersey. That makes offloading the 25-year-old the only real option -- Joe Schoen can’t let him hit free agency and walk for nothing.
Thibodeaux is entering a contract year, and if he’s looking to get paid anywhere close to other young, high-upside pass rushers, the Giants are going to have to decide if they’re comfortable with that while already paying Brian Burns $141 million and developing Abdul Carter
That’s so much money tied up in one position group.
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently handed 2022 first overall pick Travon Walker a four-year, $110 million ($27.5 milly annually) extension. And while Spotrac estimates Thibs’ value at four years, $74 million ($18.5 million per year) -- which actually feels low -- even that’s tough to justify for a pass rusher who played 72% of the snaps when healthy and still finished with just 2.5 sacks. That’s why looking at alternatives like Gabe Jacas (Illinois), R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma), and Derrick Moore (Michigan) makes sense.
Trading Thibs might not be at the forefront of Schoen’s mind, but being idle has burned him more times than he’d like to admit. It’s time to be proactive, and with the draft right around the corner, there might not be a better chance to get ahead of it.