Don’t look now, but two former top-10 picks could be on their way out of the Big Apple. In Joe Schoen’s first draft as GM of the New York Giants, the G-Men were in a fantastic position drafting at No. 5 and No. 7 overall. And New York used those picks to select Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal, two players who were expected to be franchise cornerstones in the trenches.
Yet that has proven not to be the case.
Fast forward to 2025, and both former first-rounders are reportedly on the hot seat, with league insiders speculating the Giants may cut bait during or even before the season kicks off. Thibodeaux has been dangled in trade rumors for months now following the selection of 2025 first rounder Abdul Carter, and Neal’s career trajectory is reminiscent of Ereck Flowers.
A to Z Sports’ Mauricio Rodriguez backed up the claim of his colleague, Destin Adams, that the Giants could part with the ex-top 10 picks.
New York Giants' hot take has the franchise trading away two former first-rounders before the 2025 NFL season trade deadline
Kayvon Thibodeaux will have suitors, but Evan Neal not so much
And teams could use him. Thibodeaux recorded 11.5 sacks in 2023 before suffering a statistical regression in 2024. Rodriguez referred to the addition of Carter and the lucrative contract of Brian Burns that has the Oregon product on the outside looking in in the Giants’ stacked defensive line room.
Neal, on the other hand, hasn’t lived up to expectations since Day 1. Once projected as a long-term solution at right tackle, he has struggled to stay healthy while looking overwhelmed against NFL pass rushers.
But this offseason, the former Alabama star is poised to move to guard, which feels like a last-ditch effort to revive his value.
He’s merely a rotational player at this point in his career, as Jermaine Eluemenor has usurped him as the starting right tackle. Maybe there’s value there, but it
The Giants aren’t shy about moving on from players, even high draft picks, if they no longer fit the vision. And with a new-look roster and growing urgency to contend, the Giants may be ready to turn the page on two picks who, not long ago, were supposed to anchor the franchise’s rebuild.
Whether it's via trade or roster cuts, the message is clear: nothing is guaranteed — not even for highly-touted prospects as the regime enters a pivotal juncture.