Months of Kayvon Thibodeaux trade discourse have led to some intriguing ideas involving the New York Giants’ fifth-year pass-rusher.
Good luck finding anything more fascinating than Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox’s three-team trade pitch.
You read that correctly. In a sport where three-team trades never happen, Knox suggested the Giants send Thibodeaux to the 49ers while also acquiring veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey from the Ravens.
Knox’s full proposed trade is below:
Humphrey is due over $15 million in base salary and has a $4 million roster bonus. He is in the final season of his five-year, $97.5 million contract.
A three-team deal involving Kayvon Thibodeaux and Marlon Humphrey makes no sense for the Giants
Before going any further, we must note that three-team trades are allowed in the NFL. They simply rarely happen, especially when compared to the NBA. NFL rules do not prohibit a three-team trade.
Knox wrote that he factored in “player production, positional value, team needs, salary cap implications, and any relevant recent buzz” while conceiving the trade.
Such a move is creative, but it’s not one we’d suggest the Giants make.
Although Humphrey had four interceptions last year, his 50.1 Pro Football Focus grade ranked 105th of 114 qualified cornerbacks. Add in the fact that he turns 30 in July, and you’ll understand our natural skepticism.
In fairness, Pro Football Focus grades are notoriously divisive. It’s not as simple as using a baseball player's strikeout rate, error count, and OPS to determine their Wins Above Replacement.
There’s also the question of why the Ravens would take Hodgins rather than, say, Jalin Hyatt. Keep in mind that the former Tennessee standout is in the final year of his rookie contract and, given the Giants’ offseason receiver moves, faces an extremely uphill battle to crack the Week 1 roster.
Humphrey played his entire career for John Harbaugh, and he’s spent the last few years working with Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. The familiarity is there, but the age and money simply work against Humphrey.
As for Thibodeaux and the 49ers, that’s a situation worth monitoring if the Giants are out of the playoff hunt by late October. What would San Francisco be willing to give up for a rental in Thibodeaux?
All we feel comfortable assuming is that a 49ers-Giants trade likely wouldn’t involve a third team. The keyword is “likely,” because when the 49ers or Rams are involved, can you truly predict what they’re thinking?
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