Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux Situation is Worse Than You Think

Three years ago, it appeared that New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was on the path to stardom.

During his sophomore NFL campaign in 2023, Thibodeaux racked up 50 tackles, 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, which followed a solid showing in his rookie season.

Thibodeaux was a fringe Pro Bowl talent that year, and when the Giants signed Brian Burns that ensuing offseason, it appeared that New York was building a terrifying pass rush.

Then came the injuries.

Thibodeaux missed five games in 2024 due to a wrist injury, and during his time on the field, he logged 28 tackles and 5.5 sacks. New York then drafted Abdul Carter third overall, a clear threat to Thibodeaux's standing.

Last year, Thibodeaux's decline worsened, as he missed the final seven games of the season with a shoulder injury and totaled 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

The former first-round pick was viewed as a prime trade candidate heading into the offseason, and when the Giants drafted Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Thibodeaux.

But New York held on to him, and while the Giants probably feel fortunate that Thibodeaux is still on the roster following a season-ending knee injury to Burns, they certainly can't be happy with his production.

The 25-year-old has posted five tackles, no sacks and just one quarterback hit through four games, and that quarterback hit came in Week 1. He has just one solo tackle, and he owns a 54.0 overall grade at Pro Football Focus. Even worse, his pass-rushing grade is 49.4, which ranks 108th among 110 qualifying edge defenders.

Based on where Thibodeaux seemed to be headed a few years ago, it seems wild to imagine the mere thought of him being one of the least productive edge rushers in the NFL in 2026, but here we are.

Thibodeaux is slated to hit free agency at year's end, and New York almost certainly won't be re-signing him. Not with Burns under contract and Carter in the pipeline for a future long-term deal, as well (although Carter has his own issues).

The Giants do stand to reap a compensatory pick if and when Thibodeaux walks, but it might not be the third-rounder that fans initially expected.

New York surely could have dealt Thibodeaux for a Day 2 pick after 2024, but the Giants decided to move forward with him. They then had the opportunity to trade him for a fourth-rounder during the draft back in April, but they understandably stood pat.

With Burns sidelined, there is zero excuse for Thibodeaux not to produce. He played in 95.3 percent of New York's defensive snaps in Week 4. It resulted in two assisted tackles.

We know that Thibodeaux has talent. He displayed it at Oregon, and he flashed it over his first couple of seasons with Big Blue.

But whether or not the California native can actually rediscover his groove and establish himself as a major threat in the Giants' pass rush again remains to be seen.