The New York Giants arguably have the best trio of edge defenders in the league. The combination of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter is an explosive group of edge benders that benefits from a force of nature pushing the pocket, named Dexter Lawrence.
Independent of Lawrence, though, the trio consists of all 27 or younger individuals with immense potential. Burns is coming off a 61-pressure season, during which he battled injuries throughout. Thibodeaux recorded 38 pressures in 358 pass rushing snaps (he missed five games in the middle of the season).
Then there’s the addition of Carter, who played one season on the edge for Penn State. He was a menace for the Nittany Lions and recorded 66 pressures. Both Carter and Burns’ ability to win high-side fits Shane Bowen’s WIDE-9 fronts well. Thibodeaux’s skill set has developed, and he continues to refine his abilities.
Burns had a 23% pass rush win rate (PRWR) in 2024 (fourth among NFL EDGE rushers). Thibodeaux’s PRWR was 14.2%, but that was more than double his 2023 season; he ranked 16th in the statistic in 2024. Carter’s pass rush win rate was 22.9%, which led the FBS in 2024.
There are several questions surrounding the 2025 edge group for the Giants, but my primary question is — can this group live up to expectations?
The Giants defense has a lot to prove — and I don’t want to put the cart before the horse — but this group is immensely talented. If the rest of the Giants team can hold up their end of the couch — score points on offense, positive game scripts, stop the run, etc. — then this edge group can be special.
The usage of Abdul Carter
Carter’s versatility is an asset. He can be utilized across the entire defensive front and handle various responsibilities at a high level. His fluidity in space will allow Bowen to devise unique simulated pressures, and Bowen’s stunt/twist game should be exciting with Carter’s presence on the team.
However, Carter’s best usage will be on the edge in passing situations where he can pin his ears back and stress offensive tackles. Carter still aligned 90 times at his former position of linebacker in 2024. He’ll likely receive snaps in the A-Gap in passing situations, and some sub-packages may allow Carter to play a hybrid edge/linebacker role.
Carter should have a multi-role deployment that keeps offenses guessing and is based on the opponent’s game plan. This should be useful against mobile quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts. The packages that Bowen can deploy with Carter, Thibodeaux, and Burns — along with Lawrence and players like Darius Alexander and Chauncey Golston — should keep offensive line coaches up at night.
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s development?
Thibodeaux’s career warrants respect. He’s not a bad football player, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to his reputation nor his TOP-5 pedigree. Yet, he’s recorded 126 pressures over three seasons with 21 sacks and is solid overall against the run. His advanced metrics improved significantly from 2023 to 2024, and the 24-year-old will look to further that development in a more positive environment in 2025.
Carter’s selection — in theory — may hinder Thibodeaux’s upside and limit his opportunities on the field. Still, Carter’s presence will also allow Thibodeaux to win more frequently through less attention and more creative scheming by Shane Bowen. I wouldn’t write Thibodeaux off, and it’s fair to suggest the best is yet to come for Thibodeaux as a New York Giant.
Chauncey Golston’s impact
Golston recorded 37 pressures and 5.5 sacks for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. The 27-year-old played with Micah Parsons for the last four seasons and has 91 total pressures in his career, but he experienced a big jump in production last season. His passing statistics were solid, but his elite 31% run stop win rate (RSWR) ranked eighth in the NFL.
When the Giants signed Golston, we were unaware that Carter would join him in the edge room at the beginning of the draft. I still believe, though, that Golston will carve out a crucial rotational role on the Giants’ defensive front. Some of those snaps will be at the edge, others will be inside, but he should still see the field plenty in 2025.
Shane Bowen: Balance responsibilities
Bowen must be happy to have Burns, Carter, and Thibodeaux, along with Golston, but balancing the pass to rush responsibilities with these edge defenders is a challenge. These are very capable pass-rushers with elite ability to get after the quarterback. Still, teams will look to exploit that desire by running the football and forcing the Giants to be gap responsible.
Bowen must ensure that he’s judicious when he’s tasking his edge defenders to just GO! Have a run contingency plan for that responsibility, and don’t be too eager too early against savvy play-callers in certain situations.
Football is a game of chess, and Shane Bowen has valuable pieces at his disposal; however, avoiding predicaments due to over-aggressive formations or misuse could be difficult. Shane Bowen’s creativity and usage are one of the most significant question marks facing the Giants’ edge room and the team in general.
Depth?
Golston is valuable depth behind the trio of edge defenders, but the Giants are lacking consistent and proven players beyond the former Dallas Cowboy. Tomon Fox will compete for a roster spot again. He played 207 snaps in 2024 with three pressures and a sack. He’s entering his fourth season with the Giants and there’s little competition for him on the roster.
New York added former Arizona Cardinal Victor Dimukeje in free agency, but he tore his pectoral muscle earlier this offseason. Trace Ford, the UDFA out of Oklahoma, is the only other edge rusher on the roster. New York will likely add another edge before the season, but the combination of Burns, Carter, Thibodeaux, and Golston gives the Giants a very respectable overall edge room with upside through the clouds.