What are Brian Daboll and the Giants most pressing needs this offseason? Whatever they may be, they’ve a good shot at addressing them with the No. 3 overall pick. With just two weeks left before the draft, the franchise’s interests are becoming a little clearer. When it comes to the Giants, their growing interest in Penn State star rusher Abdul Carter is saying a lot. Last week, on Thursday and Friday, the Giants welcomed the 21-year-old to their facility. Now, everyone’s wondering if the team is planning to use that third pick to draft Carter. But if Carter is the player they’re eyeing… it also stirs up a few questions. Especially about the current pieces on that defensive line.
Now, if we’re being exact, it’s Kayvon Thibodeaux who would be most affected if Abdul Carter ends up joining the Giants’ roster. The Giants’ 2022 first pick, Thibodeaux, has been good on the gridiron but not elite. Now the team is likely to make a big decision about him. The word on the street is that New York is reportedly considering putting Kayvon on the trade block heading into the NFL Draft. The team has until May 1 to decide if they want to keep him around for the 2025 season by picking up his fifth-year option. According to Over the Cap, the 24-year-old will hit free agency next year.
NFL RUMORS: #Giants’ OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux is listed as a trade candidate ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/AgWyDyMwKh
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) April 14, 2025
Over three seasons with the Giants, Thibodeaux has recorded 21 defensive sacks. His career high was 11.5 sacks during the 2023 season. In the 2024 season, the Oregon alum recorded 14 solo tackles and 5.5 sacks.
New York Daily News’ Ralph Vacchiano says that trading Kayvon Thibodeaux wouldn’t make much sense unless the team has a replacement ready. And right now, that replacement seems to be Abdul Carter. “So, this depends on whether the Giants end up drafting Penn State’s Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick,” Ralph wrote. “If they do, they might conclude that they’re not going to pay Thibodeaux big money when his contract expires after the season… Especially when they’ve already got huge money committed to DE Brian Burns and DT Dexter Lawrence.“
And if the Giants do decide to trade their defensive lineman, what could be the potential landing spot for Kayvon?
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s future: Giants big decision
The Niners are pretty thin on the defensive side, especially after parting ways with several key players this offseason. Losing Leonard Floyd and Javon Hargrave has left a hole in their D-line. And with the recent release of DT Maliek Collins, they have pressing needs to fill. So, if the Giants decide to draft Abdul Carter and trade away Kayvon Thibodeaux, could the $7.4B franchise be interested in acquiring him?
Looking at the stats of his three-year career, the 24-year-old might not be an ideal pick. But Thibodeaux could still be worth a second or third-round pick. But here’s what could stop the Niners from pursuing the Giants’ defensive lineman. Kayvon is entering the final season of his rookie contract. So, if San Francisco trades a mid-round pick for the Giants’ 2022 first-rounder and he underperforms, they could lose him in free agency.
If the Niners lose Kayvon to free agency, all they would get in return is a compensatory pick in a few years. But, if Thibodeaux turns out to be elite on the gridiron, the team would have to offer him an expensive contract to keep him on the roster. So, while it could be a low-risk move, it comes with potential long-term financial consequences. It all depends on how the DL performs.
Another problem is that San Francisco is already planning to spend a lot on their QB. With Brock Purdy’s pricey extension looming, adding another soon-to-be expensive player might not make financial sense. So, the Niners might just pass on Thibodeaux if he hits the trade block. And if that happens, the young pass rusher’s future could be cloaked in uncertainty. At least until a team decides he’s worth the gamble.
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