The New York Giants have shaken up the 2026 NFL Draft after they traded All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick. In the blink of an eye, the Giants‘ draft plans have changed, as they now have two top-10 picks, which will be used to add to their budding young core.
Trading Lawrence also changes New York’s plans when it comes to other potential trades. One guy who has seen his name pop up in trade rumors this offseason is defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux, and while the Giants are still listening to offers for him, it sounds like they are less inclined to move him now that Lawrence is gone.
Giants ‘Unlikely’ to Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux
Lawrence was the anchor at the center of New York’s defensive line who helped open things up for guys like Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter. While Burns racked up a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2025, the other three stars in this group combined for just seven total sacks. Without Lawrence clogging up the middle of the line, things are going to get more difficult for the remaining trio.
Of this group, Thibodeaux has begun to feel like the odd man out, especially in the wake of the team’s decision to select Carter with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Thibodeaux, who was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, hasn’t managed to become the sort of consistent star New York was hoping he’d become early in his career. With Burns and Carter in town, he has emerged as an obvious trade candidate.
The Giants are going to have to make a decision on Thibodeaux soon, because he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. It would seemingly make a lot of sense for the team to explore moving on from Thibodeaux before it’s too late, but with Lawrence no longer in town, a trade involving the former top-five pick appears “unlikely.”
“The Giants, who had gotten trade calls centered around edge Kayvon Thibodeaux for the last few months, are now considered less likely to trade him following the blockbuster deal sending Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, sources say. No one is ruling anything out. But unlikely,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.
Should the Giants Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux?
GettyKayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the New York Giants celebrates after sacking Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium.
Losing Lawrence obviously makes the Giants’ defense weaker, but it’s not as if Thibodeaux is going to be the one replacing him. Even with Lawrence gone, he’s still on the outside looking in, as Burns and Carter are viewed as New York’s top pass-rushing duo. You can make an argument that trading Thibodeaux now would actually make more sense, as it would help the front office acquire more assets that could be used to properly replace Lawrence.
New York can try to lean on Thibodeaux, or Burns and Carter, to replace Lawrence, but they aren’t interior defensive linemen. Beyond that, keeping Thibodeaux means the team would have to hand him a big-money deal in order to prevent him from potentially leaving for nothing in free agency next offseason. Losing Lawrence shouldn’t prevent the Giants from looking to unload Thibodeaux, but that seems to be the front office’s game plan as the draft draws near.
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