The Giants may already be regretting how they handled Kayvon Thibodeaux’s trade market back in April.
New York turned down an offer from the Saints that would have sent the 132nd pick in the 2026 Draft to the Giants for Thibodeaux, according to the report, because the team wanted a second-rounder instead. Five months later, that fourth-round selection suddenly looks a lot more appealing.
The reason is simple: Thibodeaux has not produced. Four games into his fifth NFL season, the former No. 5 overall pick has five tackles, four quarterback pressures and one QB hit, but no sacks. His 0% pass-rush win rate is the worst in the league, and the Giants are left staring at a pass rusher who has yet to make the impact they need.
That’s especially rough for a defense that has already lost Brian Burns for the season to a torn ACL.
The timing makes the missed deal sting even more. New York reportedly wanted a second-round pick for Thibodeaux during the offseason, a price that felt aggressive then and looks even more unrealistic now. The Giants had already appeared to have their top two pass rushers in place with Burns and Carter, which left Thibodeaux in an awkward spot as the third edge option coming off the worst season of his career.
New Orleans, meanwhile, moved on. The Saints later sent a fifth-round pick to Las Vegas for edge rusher Tyree Wilson, who has one more sack than Thibodeaux so far. They also kept the 132nd pick and used it on Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright.
For the Giants, the bigger issue is what happens next. Thibodeaux is months away from free agency, and his trade value hasn’t gotten any better after four sackless games. Burns’ injury only makes the situation harder, because New York’s thin pass rush can hardly afford to lose another body.
The gamble was clear: the Giants believed Thibodeaux was worth more than the pick New Orleans offered. Right now, that bet looks shaky.
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