The New York Giants used the third-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Penn State’s Abdul Carter, and some analysts across the league believe this selection could lead to a Kayvon Thibodeaux trade. Widely considered to be one of the best pass rushing prospects in recent memory, Carter should immediately start and has double-digit sack potential as a rookie. Veteran Brian Burns, meanwhile, is on a well-deserved massive contract and is coming off a strong season of his own.
Barring injury, these two will push Kayvon Thibodeaux into a depth role. While the former fifth-overall pick hasn’t quite played up to his draft capital since entering the league, he’s a solid pass rusher who can get after the quarterback and hold his own in the run game. There aren’t enough good pass rushers to go around, and Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox believes the Giants could trade Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Carolina Panthers in the coming weeks.
“The Carolina Panthers could look to pair Thibodeaux with second-round rookie Nic Scourton and third-round rookie Princely Umanmielen to form an exciting edge rotation,” Knox writes. “Jadeveon Clowney was Carolina’s top edge rusher in 2024, but he turned 32 in February.”
Bleacher Report: Giants Could Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux to Panthers
As mentioned above, the Carolina Panthers added two pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft, so would they be interested in a Kayvon Thibodeaux trade despite the young talent on the roster? Chances are, the answer is yes. The Panthers had the NFL’s worst front seven last year, and it wasn’t particularly close. Ranking at or near the bottom of almost every metric, Carolina needs as many pass rushers as they can get, even with the addition of the Day 2 rookies.
Scourton and Umanmielen are both promising young players, but they don’t have the ceiling or expected Day 1 production of an elite prospect like Carter. Jadeveon Clowney, meanwhile, didn’t live up to his contract and could be a cap casualty if the team executes a Kayvon Thibodeaux trade. Currently carrying a $13.78 million cap hit, the Panthers can save $7.78 million by parting ways with the veteran.
The Panthers have every reason to trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux, but will the Giants entertain an offer?
Are the Giants Selling?
Kayvon Thibodeaux has two years left on his rookie contract and, given the presence of Carter and Burns, probably won’t receive an extension with the Giants. This means New York must weigh the risks and rewards of keeping a player who probably isn’t a part of the long-term plan. On the one hand, New York’s roster is one of the weakest in the league and it’s hard to envision a team quarterbacked by Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and a rookie Jaxson Dart making the playoffs.
On the other hand, head coach Brian Daboll might lose his job if he cannot guide this team to a winning season. The former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator brought the Giants to the playoffs in 2022 but has not recaptured that magic over the past two seasons. If he falls short again, the Giants might start over with a new coach. The Giants probably won’t trade Kayvon Thibodeaux unless New York can get a player who can immediately help the organization.
Main Photo: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
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