The New York Giants now find themselves in a position where they almost have to make this one trade.
The New York Giants' playoff hopes disintegrated the moment Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, and now, they must consider the future of the roster.
That means weighing potential trades that they were hoping wouldn't have to be made.
Thibodeaux has been a very popular name in trade discussions for a while now, but the Giants haven't budged. They were offered a fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints back during the NFL Draft, but they rebuffed the Saints' advances.
New York felt that Thibodeaux was worth more than a Day 3 selection, which is entirely understandable. After all, the Giants used a top-five pick on Thibodeaux back in 2022, and during his second season, he racked up 50 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
The problem? Thibodeaux has done nothing of significance ever since.
He registered 28 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2024, missing five games during the middle of the campaign due to wrist surgery. He then missed the final seven contests of 2025, finishing with a mere 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Through two games this year, Thibodeaux has logged two tackles and one quarterback hit. He's also played in just 49 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps.
Thibodeaux's playing time should increase exponentially in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans, as it looks like Brian Burns will be out with an ankle injury. And if Burns misses multiple games, Thibodeaux will be on the field quite a bit in the coming weeks.
This should give Thibodeaux an opportunity to build his trade value, and with the 25-year-old slated to hit free agency next spring, it would be wise for New York to jettison him before the Nov. 10 trade deadline if it is out of playoff contention.
Of course, the question is how much the Giants would actually get for Thibodeaux at this point. Because right now, he's certainly not worth anything more than a fourth-rounder based on his production since 2024.
Does Thibodeaux have the talent to command a Day 2 pick? Sure, but results are what matters, and the University of Oregon product has not been productive enough — nor healthy enough — to fetch anything more than an early Day 3 draft choice thus far.
That being said, there are always teams needy for pass-rushing help, so perhaps New York could find a gullible trade partner willing to part with a third-round pick within the next month-and-a-half.
The Giants are going to lose Thibodeaux to free agency anyway, and while they could reap a compensatory draft pick for his exit, that would require New York to lose more free agents than it signs, and the pick wouldn't manifest until 2028, anyway.
Burns and Abdul Carter are Big Blue's top two edge rushers. Arvell Reese possesses pass-rushing chops from the linebacker position, as well. Thibodeaux is really just a luxury piece, so the Giants should already be aiming to offload him come November.
