English
EspañolThe New York Giants are under new management, and all bets are off when it comes to which players they plan to keep and which ones they plan to move on from.
One player who has been mentioned on both sides of those arguments is fifth-year linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who will be playing out the final year of his rookie deal this season.
There's a school of thought that Thibodeaux may not be worth the salary he's earning ($14.75 million, fully guaranteed this season) because of his inability to remain healthy. In his four seasons with Big Blue, Thibodeaux has only played a full 17 games once, in 2023, when he registered 11.5 sacks and was seen as an ascending player.
Heading into this season, the former Oregon star, whom the Giants selected fifth overall in the 2022 NFL draft, has a lot to prove. The Giants, however, may have seen enough already. The trade rumors have been flying, but what Thibodeaux's trade value is at the moment is unknown.
Veteran NFL reporter Matt Lombardo recently explored the trade market for Thibodeaux, resigned to the fact that the Giants are seeking to move on from him.
According to an agent familiar with the pass rush market, and an additional league source, the New York Giants are looking to move on from pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Despite a crowded edge rush room that includes All-Pro Brian Burns and No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Abdul Carter, Thibodeaux still managed 2.5 sacks and 32 hurries in 10 games before a shoulder injury that cost him time throughout the season finally landed the former Oregon standout on injured reserve last season.
“He’s a freak athlete,” an AFC Scout tells Between The Hashmarks, of Thibodeaux. “Needs to still get a little stronger, but otherwise has all of the physical tools you look for.”
The adage in the NFL is that you can never have enough pass rushers, but the Giants, as mentioned above, already have several pass rushers who are better. Carter is likely to play all three downs and come off the field for only a few plays, while Burns has shown that he can handle a heavy workload as well.
Thibodeaux appears to be a luxury at this point, and, until he can show that he's durable, isn't worth the money they are paying him. The Giants need that cap space for other things this offseason.
That AFC scout is dead-on about KT. He can be a game-changer, but he gets swallowed up by offensive tackles more often than one would like. If he were stronger, he would likely break out of those blocks. Used in the right context, he can be a very productive player, but right now, the Giants are looking to deploy their assets elsewhere.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: AFC scout on New York Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux: 'He's a freak athlete'