Leading up to the NFL Draft, the New York Giants ended their saga with Dexter Lawrence by trading him to the Cincinnati Bengals. Following some recent online activity, it looks like another member of the defense could be on the way out.
Throughout the offseason, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeau’s name has popped up in countless trade rumors. On April 24th, insider Jordan Schultz reported that New York has engaged in discussions for the 25-year-old, with the New Orleans Saints being among the most interested teams.
Not long after these new developments, Thibodeaux got the football world buzzing with one cryptic post on social media. He put the iconic farewell scene of Paul Walker from the “Fast and Furious” franchise, indicating that his time with the Giants is slowly coming to an end.
Thibodeaux has been with the Giants since 2022, when the team drafted him fifth overall. He is coming off a 2025 campaign where he notched 2.5 sacks across 10 appearances, both career-lows.
NFL Insider Cites Giants Not Looking to Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux Following First-Round Selection
Schultz’s reporting is a bit conflicting, seeing as the chatter around Thibodeaux was much different during the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft.
After being tied to a plethora of prospects, the Giants ended up selecting Ohio State standout Arvell Reese with the No. 5 pick. Adding another notable defensive talent led to more buzz about Thibodeaux, but the idea of a deal coming was quickly shut down.
Following his initial report on the Giants’ pick, Adam Schefter took to X/Twitter to dive in further. He noted that while Reese and Thibodeaux play a similar position, New York doesn’t plan on moving on from the latter.
Only time will tell if the Giants decide to keep the pair in hopes of building a top-notch defense for the future or part with Thibodeaux to pave a path for a new young defensive prospect.
Giants GM and Coach Also Dismiss the Idea of a Kayvon Thibodeaux Trade
Schefter is not the only one fueling a narrative that Thibodeaux isn’t getting dealt. High-ranking members of the Giants have also weighed in on the recent buzz.
Following the conclusion of the first round of the draft, head coach John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen fielded questions from the media. As expected, a potential Thibodeaux trade was brought up. The two quickly made it clear they want to fill the Giants’ roster with talent, not deplete it.
“We keep all the good players,” Harbaugh told reporters. “As much as we can. Right?”
“Yup,” Schoen replied.
The clock is ticking for the Giants to make a decision when it comes to Thibodeaux’s future with the franchise. After exercising his team option for this upcoming season, he is essentially playing on a one-year deal. If New York doesn’t plan on giving him an extension, they’ll want to move him to get some form of return before he walks for nothing in free agency.
Given that the Giants have already been active in the week leading up to the draft, they are a team to keep an eye on for more deals.
Giants DE Makes Cryptic Social Media Post Amid Trade Rumors