The bright lights of Sunday Night Football were clearly too much for the New York Giants to handle as they were trounced by the Kansas City Chiefs in their home opener. It already seems like Big Blue's playoff window has closed, and it looks like East Rutherford is home to not one, but two dumpster fires this season.
With New York sitting at 0-3, head coach Brian Daboll knows his job is on the line, so he's ready to replace Russell Wilson with Jaxson Dart, and yes, we're all having Daniel Jones flashbacks. The season's far gone, so Daboll and Schoen could be bracing for a fire sale once the NFL's trade deadline rolls around.
Both Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux have been at the center of trade rumors, and it's looking increasingly likely that the 2022 first-round picks won't be Giants much longer. On Monday afternoon, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that 49ers star pass-rusher Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending ACL tear, which could open the door for a possible Thibodeaux trade.
Tests today showed that 49ers Pro Bowl DE Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending torn ACL during Sunday’s win over Arizona, sources tell ESPN. It’s a clean tear, but Bosa now will need season-ending surgery. pic.twitter.com/f6xdHY0iVS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 22, 2025
Giants could trade Kayvon Thibodeaux to the 49ers
Through three weeks of the season, the No. 5 overall pick from 2022 has tallied 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and five quarterback hits. After the Giants selected Penn State's Abdul Carter in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, it's long been speculated that Thibodeaux's days in blue and white were numbered.
However, the G-Men picked up Thibodeaux's fifth-year option, meaning the Oregon product is under contract in New York until the conclusion of the 2026 season. That could be appealing to edge-needy teams closer to the deadline, especially since both the Lions and 49ers are dealing with injury woes to their defensive line.
With the five-time Pro Bowler sidelined, the 49ers will be forced to turn to Bryce Huff and first-round rookie Mykel Williams to take over off the edge. Obviously, losing a player of Bosa's caliber is a devastating blow to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's defense, but it makes the path forward clear for the 3-0 49ers.
San Francisco GM John Lynch is no stranger to making splash trades midseason. He acquired Christian McCaffrey midway through 2022, traded for Chase Young at the 2023 deadline, and has swung offseason trades for Huff and Trent Williams, so his making this call is a realistic outcome.
It's a move Schoen can afford to make too. Burns and Carter are the long-term EDGE duo in East Rutherford, and it's highly unlikely the Giants sign Thibodeaux to a long-term extension. So sending the 24-year-old to the Bay makes way too much sense for both sides.
If the stars align, this is a win-now move for the 49ers, while the Giants can set themselves up for post-Daboll life by replenishing the draft capital they lost by trading up for Dart.