The New York Giants entered the 2026 NFL Draft with an abundance of promising edge defenders, and they added another with the fifth-overall pick. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese was reportedly in consideration for the second-overall pick, but he ultimately fell to the Giants. John Harbaugh’s squad wasted no time in selecting the talented prospect, but his presence could lead to a Kayvon Thibodeaux trade.
A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Oregon product would be good enough to start on most teams but has been relegated to a backup role in New York. With Brian Burns and former third-overall pick Abdul Carter firmly ahead of him on the depth chart, Thibodeaux has been a popular trade target throughout the offseason, and Reese’s presence only increases the odds of a trade. After all, Thibodeaux is entering the final year of his contract and the Giants might as well maximize the return for his services.
Predicting a trade destination is difficult, as teams probably won’t seriously consider a Kayvon Thibodeaux trade until later in the draft, as there are still several intriguing pass-rushing prospects on the board. However, if the following three teams miss on their preferred prospects, they could make a move for the former top-five selection.
Giants Could Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux During NFL Draft
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have the game’s biggest competitive advantage in MVP runner-up Drake Maye. Maye is not the best quarterback in football, but when you factor in his age and contract situation, you could easily argue he’s the most valuable asset in the NFL. New England made the Super Bowl last year with a flawed roster, and now they have a chance to build on Mike Vrabel’s breakout first season with the club. The Patriots have an ok pass rushing duo in Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones, but a Kayvon Thibodeaux trade would give this team a much-needed boost on the edge. When factoring in New England’s elite defensive tackle duo in Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, Thibodeaux could give the Patriots one of the league’s best defensive lines.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens spent big on Trey Hendrickson, but they may not be done adding talent to the defensive line. Baltimore claimed they were more than willing to pair Hendrickson with Maxx Crosby, but the trade fell apart due to health concerns. It’s time for them to put their money where their mouth is and trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux isn’t nearly as good as Crosby, but he’s an above-average pass rusher who would give Baltimore an elite edge rushing duo. Talent like this is needed to compete in the loaded AFC North.
New Orleans Saints
Much like the Patriots, the Saints seem to have a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract. While former second-round pick Tyler Shough isn’t as proven as Maye, the Louisville product had a promising rookie season and should have this team competing for the NFC South crown. They might be able to win the division with their current roster construction, but they’ll need to improve the defensive line if they want to go on a deep playoff run.
