A fresh trade partner has emerged for the New York Giants.
The New York Giants added to their glut at edge rusher in the NFL Draft, selecting Ohio State Buckeyes star Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick.
Yes, yes; I know Reese technically played off-ball linebacker at Ohio State, and the Giants are evidently planning on using him off ball on the professional level, as well.
But let's be honest: Reese is obviously going to be rushing the passer even if it's from an inside role, and his presence will absolutely take snaps away from Kayvon Thibodeaux.
New York has Reese, Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter in its front seven right now, and because Burns and Carter are the clear two top guns in the pass rush, Thibodeaux will end up being the odd man out.
The Giants received a trade inquiry on Thibodeaux from the New Orleans Saints during the draft, but they opted to hold on to the former first-round pick ... likely because they didn't like what the Saints were offering.
I still think Big Blue is open to moving Thibodeaux, and it wouldn't shock me if New York rehomes him before the start of the 2026 campaign. If not before then, then possibly at the November trade deadline.
New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.On that note, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay has pitched a new potential trade partner for the Giants in that regard, suggesting that the Seattle Seahawks should have sent a conditional 2027 draft choice to New York in exchange for Thibodeaux.
"One of the areas the Seahawks needed to reload was the defensive trenches. The loss of [Boye] Mafe left a pass-rushing hole that the club ultimately failed to fill with any of its 2026 picks," Kay wrote. "While Seattle did land a few elite prospects such as Jadarian Price and Bud Clark, not one of the team's eight rookies can play on the edge.
"Even if Seahawks brass wasn't enamored with any of the pass-rushers available to them in this class, they still could have made a shrewd buy-low move to acquire Kayvon Thibodeaux for a conditional Day 2 pick in next year's draft."
The Giants would probably be willing to part with Thibodeaux for a Day 2 selection, especially considering the 25-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and almost certainly won't be re-signed.
New York is already paying Burns big money and has Carter and Reese in the pipeline, so the chances of the G-Men retaining Thibodeaux long term are astronomically slim.
The Giants have needs elsewhere on the roster, so they might as well trade from a position of strength to fill those holes.
And honestly, a trade would be best for Thibodeaux's sake. His playing time is going to be cut significantly in 2026, which comes at the worst possible time as he is preparing for free agency next March.
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