New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was once seen as the best defensive player coming out of college when the organization selected him with the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After all, he'd recorded 19 sacks in three seasons at Oregon and possessed the kind of intangibles that an NFL team looks for in an edge rusher.
Since his selection, though, Thibodeaux has been inconsistent as a member of the G-Men. In three years in New York, the 24-year-old has recorded 21 sacks ... though that does include a notable 11.5-sack season in 2023.
As Thibodeaux prepares for a crucial fourth season with Big Blue, though, he understands that his future with the organization has become a significant question.
How so?
New York drafted edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 selection process. Carter's arrival therefore - in the minds of many - casts doubt on the Giants willingness to attempt to keep Thibodeaux around long-term.
ESPN NFL analyst Aaron Schatz doesn't believe they will do so. The long-time analytics host suggested this week that the Giants should trade Thibodeaux as one final roster move before the season begins.
"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," Schatz said in a sort of prediction. "More draft capital would be a huge help for 2026 when they are trying to find as many strong offensive players as possible to build around quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers."
There is a flip side to this that makes it easier to talk about a deal but harder to envision the Giants trading Thibodeaux this season. With Carter's arrival, he and Brian Burns (with Dexter Lawrence inside) could form one of the most dangerous defensive lines in the league.
The Giants, coming off a three-win season, might not possess many roster strengths. But this group would represent at least one.
Having said that, Thibodeaux's long-term future here is a subject of debate for Giants watchers ... if not the Giants themselves.