Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon recently pitched a hypothetical deal that would send Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard and draft capital to the New York Giants in exchange for edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
On paper, it’s the kind of swap that could reshape both rosters for entirely different reasons.
The Panthers’ emergence of Rico Dowdle makes Hubbard expendable in a way that would’ve seemed unthinkable a year ago.
Dowdle erupted for back to back 200 yard performances in Weeks 5 and 6, including 10 forced missed tackles in Week 5 alone, easily the most dynamic stretch by any Carolina running back this season.
That breakout gives the Panthers a rare chance to turn surplus into strength.
Why the deal makes sense for Carolina
GettyPanthers RB Chuba Hubbard
But even further, after losing Patrick Jones II to a season-ending injury, Carolina’s edge rotation has been stretched thin.
Sure Nic Scourton has flashed as a rookie, but the team still lacks a proven disruptor opposite him, someone who can win one-on-one and tilt protections away from the young standout.
That’s where Thibodeaux comes in. At just 24 years old and still under contract through 2026, the former No. 5 overall pick fits the long-term timeline of Carolina’s defense.
The move would also bring Carolina closer to the identity new head coach Dave Canales and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero are trying to build, a defense that attacks relentlessly up front.
With Brian Burns gone, the Panthers have lacked that. But Thibodeaux could be the missing piece that reestablishes Carolina’s defensive front as a strength.
Why the deal makes sense for New York
GettyGiants Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Giants, meanwhile, could benefit from the flexibility this trade offers. Losing rookie running back Cam Skattebo to a season-ending injury is a heartbreaker.
But Hubbard, who is under contract for three more seasons at a team-friendly number, would instantly stabilize that unit.
Despite a slow start to 2025, Hubbard’s 2024 breakout (1,195 yards, 10 touchdowns, 4.8 yards per carry) showed that he can handle a heavy workload.
And with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter already on the roster, the Giants could afford to move Thibodeaux without completely gutting their pass rush. More importantly, the move would free up future cap space, as Thibodeaux’s 2026 option year is set to cost nearly $15 million.
Publicly, the Giants insist Kayvon Thibodeaux isn’t on the market.
Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer reported on the “NFL Insider Notebook” that the Giants are not looking to move Kayvon Thibodeaux by the trade deadline.
Palmer said, “Kayvon Thibodeaux updates. He’s not going anywhere. He certainly is. That was confirmed to me again this past evening.”
But words only mean so much in late October. Every team talks tough about keeping its stars until the right offer lands on the table.
The reality is simple: Thibodeaux has a price. If a team like Carolina is willing to part with a productive running back and meaningful draft capital, that phone call gets a lot harder to hang up on.
Because in this league, every player has a price, and the Panthers might be the team willing to pay it.
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