The New York Giants hit the reset button this offseason, drafting Jaxon Dart in Round 1 to be their next franchise quarterback. It appears that the Giants will be patient with Dart as Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are likely to start ahead of him this year. But there is no question that he will be relied upon to be the future quarterback for the Giants.
It feels like the Giants are in a much better position as a franchise than a year ago, especially after the additions of Abdul Carter and Dart. However, they have the second-lowest odds to win the Super Bowl in the NFC (ahead of only the Saints), and their projected win total is at just 5.5.
It’s not reasonable to think that the Giants will be legitimate contenders in 2025, let alone Super Bowl challengers. However, they are trending in the right direction, and it’s time for the front office to make moves that help them build toward their long-term goals.
Giants are encouraged to trade away young star to build for the future through the draft
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In a recent article by [Aaron Schatz of ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45569999/2025-nfl-offseason-final-moves-suggestions-trades-signings-extensions-32-teams), he wrote about the one move that every team should make ahead of Week 1. And for the Giants, that was to trade away former No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux for future draft capital. Here is a snippet of why Schatz believes that would be the smart long-term move for the franchise:
> "Yes, New York can use an edge rusher rotation and get plenty of value out of him. It can create a NASCAR-style package where one of its edge rushers moves inside on third down. But the Giants can also trade Thibodeaux to a contender that needs help on the edge, such as the Packers or the Lions, and probably get a Day 2 pick in return. More draft capital would be a huge help for 2026 when they'll be trying to find as many strong offensive players as possible to build around quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers."
>
> Aaron Schatz, ESPN
The Giants picked up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option this offseason, meaning that he is under contract through the 2026 season. But with the Giants investing so much into their defensive line, it might be time to move off him to have some extra draft capital.
Thibodeaux isn’t expected to start ahead of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter this year, and it’s worth mentioning that the Giants did sign Chauncey Golston to improve their depth. If they could trade Thibodeaux and get back a future Day 2 pick, that would be a worthwhile move for a team that is still rebuilding.
If Dart ends up hitting, the Giants will need plenty of picks and cheap contracts to fill out the roster around him. And if he doesn’t, they’ll need that capital to go up and get their next franchise quarterback. Thibodeaux should be a starting defensive end somewhere in the league, but with the investments the Giants have made on their defensive line, cashing him in for early picks is the smart move.
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