Giants less likely to tackle a pass rusher
Kayvon Thibodeaux was the subject of trade talk this offseason. After Saturday’s trade of Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati, consider the chatter muted.
New York is now considered less likely to deal the former first-round pick, and Thibodeaux will play out the 2026 season on a $14.751 million fifth-year option, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Teams had recently talked to Big Blue about Thibodeaux, 25, but as with Lawrence, it was going to take the right spot for the Giants to deal him, NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo added.
Lawrence secured the Giants their second pick in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Thibodeaux, the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft, has started 53 of a possible 68 regular season games for New York. He’s coming off a career-high 2.5 seconds in 10 games in 2025.
Giants brass had expressed confidence in Thibodeaux amid the trade talk. GM Joe Schoen said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that he expected “big things” from the running back in his fifth season. While coach John Harbaugh said in reference to Thibodeaux that “anybody can replace,” the first-year coach added that he’s “fired up” to coach him.
“He looks good, he’s in great shape,” Harbaugh said earlier this month. “I’m thinking about him on the field, getting him connected with our defense and getting him rolling.”