Do the New York Giants want to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, or do they not? That’s the question.
Conflicting reports emerged from Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports that the Giants could move Thibodeaux, yet those rumors were quickly rebuffed by NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
Thibodeaux is under contract through the 2026 NFL season after the Giants picked up his fifth-year option. The No. 5 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft from the Giants has 2.5 sacks this year and 21 tackles — and nearly recorded his first forced fumble Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In four years with the Giants, Thibodeaux has 23.5 sacks, 148 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown.
The Giants (2-6) will host the San Francisco 49ers (5-3) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Jordan Schultz Floated Kayvon Thibodeaux Rumors
The trade deadline is in a week, and the Giants are four games under .500 — despite hopes of turning things around this season. With a star-laden front four, keyed by 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter, plus NFL sack co-leader Brian Burns, the Giants could afford to part with Thibodeaux to improve other parts of their defense.
Or at least that was the reporting from the well-connected NFL insider Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports.
“Another name to watch on the trade front is #Giants EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux,” Schultz shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “Heâs under contract for another year after this season, but some around the league have wondered whether heâs part of New Yorkâs long-term plans and if he could become available with the Giants sitting at 2-6. Teams are actively exploring the pass-rush trade market, but movement has been slow â in part because there are so many available options.”
It would be understandable for the Giants to sell based on their position in last place, and especially after losing two star-caliber offensive players — Malik Nabers (knee) and Cam Skattebo (ankle) — to likely season-ending injuries.
Yet, the Giants pretty clearly rebuffed Schultz’s reporting.
Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport Swiftly Shot Down Those Kayvon Thibodeaux Rumors
Mike Garafolo has been covering the Giants for decades, first in his post for NJ.com then as a member of NFL Media.
So when Schultz’s reporting made it onto social media, Garafolo undoubtedly went straight to the source for either a confirmation or denial. He got the latter.
“Spoke to a few teams that reached out to the #Giants on Kayvon Thibodeaux and theyâve been told thereâs no interest in trading him, sources say,” Garafolo posted on X. “Thibodeaux is under contract through next season after the team picked up his fifth-year option and they intend on having him in 2026.”
Rapoport then added some context to Garafolo’s reporting.
“The #Giants didnât work to build up their defensive front only to start tearing it down,” Rapoport tweeted.
Aside from off loading a player under team control for another year, the timing does not make sense for the Giants to trade Thibodeaux this year.
They could trade him in the off-season and accrue no dead cap space after the league calendar flips in March, rather than taking on a $5 million dead-cap charge now, according to Over the Cap.
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