Kayvon

Thibodeaux

Hughes makes clear that he thinks Skattebo’s time as the clear-cut lead back is over, recapping coach John Harbaugh’s offseason attempts to acquire a bellcow, while noting that Skattebo is currently in the doghouse. Hughes believes Skattebo is a nice complementary player who can function as a physical change-of-pace option. The biggest issue the Giants face in replacing him is cost. He thinks a player like Jonathan Taylor will cost a Day 2 pick, at least, and he is not sure Taylor is worth that, given the Giants’ long-term plans for the 2027 draft capital they’ve accrued via various personnel moves. Trading away Kayvon Thibodeaux is an option, but doing so is challenging with Brian Burns (knee) out for the year.

The Saints, who were rumored to be interested in Thibodeaux before instead pivoting to a deal for Raiders EDGE Tyree Wilson, were only offering a fourth-round pick. The Giants truly have an embarrassment of pass-rushing riches right now, but we agree with them that there’s probably little reason for them to deal Thibodeaux for a Day 3 pick. Thibodeaux enters his fifth-year option offseason as a likely deadline trade candidate if the right value can be found.

Quite the development. Just last night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Giants do not intend to trade Thibodeaux. The 25-year-old pass rusher was rumored to be available via trade earlier this offseason. After the Giants traded away DT Dexter Lawrence, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Giants were “considered less likely” to trade him away, though. The Saints’ edge rush was viewed as a position of need entering the 2026 NFL Draft. New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill adds that the Saints inquired about trading for Thibodeaux and believes that “the price might have to dip a little to make it happen.”

Schefter broke the news moments after the Giants drafted Ohio State LB Arvell Reese with the 2026 NFL Draft’s No. 5 overall pick. Reports from earlier this offseason indicated Thibodeaux was available via trade, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that a trade was “considered less likely” after the team traded away DT Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. A shoulder injury sidelined Thibodeaux from Week 11 and on last year. He totaled 32 quarterback pressures and three sacks before that.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said last month that “multiple league sources” expected Thibodeaux to be dealt by the Giants, but the recent trade of Lawrence likely means Thibodeaux will be staying put. The former No. 5 overall pick has totaled just 53 tackles and eight sacks over the last two seasons, with injuries limiting him to 22 games over that span. Thibodeaux is in the final year of his rookie deal and seems unlikely to sign an extension before the start of next season. He will need a strong season in 2026 if he hopes to ink a long-term deal next offseason.

Teams have believed Thibodeaux has been available for a while, but this is the first report we’ve seen noting that he’s expected to be moved. Thibodeaux is entering his fifth-year option season and moving him would free up $15 million in cap space for the Giants. A Thibodeaux trade would perhaps portend a more active offseason than expected for John Harbaugh’s crew.

The Giants have Brian Burns and Abdul Carter handling EDGE duties, plus Dexter Lawrence causing havoc on the interior. That leaves Thibodeaux as the odd man out. The 2022 No. 5 overall pick peaked at 11.5 sacks in his second season. He then fell to 5.5 sacks in 2024 and a measly 2.5 takedowns last year. Thibodeaux is set to play out the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2026 before hitting free agency. With his role declining in New York and his contract set to expire after a year, he should be fairly affordable for a team looking to bolster its pass-rush.

It’s the fifth straight game missed by Thibodeaux. He did not practice all week, as usual. Someone should be letting Joe Schoen know about the existence of an injured reserve list any day now.

Thibodeaux remains out with his shoulder injury, and there’s a good chance he won’t return in 2025. Wilson will again be the emergency quarterback behind Jaxon Dart and Jameis Winston.

Thibodeaux’s inactivity does not come as a surprise after he was ruled out earlier in the week. It does, however, go down as a significant absence for the Giants as they set their sights on an upset win over the Patriots on Monday Night Football. The fact the team did not place the veteran pass rusher on injured reserve likely means he is nearing a return, which appears likely to come when they come back from their Week 14 bye.