NFL Exec Says Giants Could Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux if Abdul Carter Drafted at No. 3

The New York Giants could have a surplus of pass-rushers if they land Penn State star edge-rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Some believe that would spell the end for a former first-round selection in New York.

One NFL executive told The Athletic's Jeff Howe that the Giants could trade edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux for a third-round pick if they select Carter in this year's draft. New York has a looming decision on whether to exercise the fifth-year option for the 2022 No. 5 pick, so the exec feels he could be a trade candidate if he's not in the team's long-term plans.

Thibodeaux has had a productive three-year career for the Giants, but he hasn't yet reached the superstar level that was expected of him coming out of Oregon. After recording a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2023, he was limited to 12 games last season due to a wrist injury and finished with a career-low 28 total tackles while adding 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Carter appears to be destined for stardom, as he's considered an instant-impact player in the NFL. B/R's NFL Scouting Department has him ranked as the No. 2 overall player on its big board and predicted in its latest mock draft that the Giants would select him with the No. 3 pick.

Pairing Carter with veteran edge-rusher Brian Burns would give the Giants a dangerous pass-rushing duo, but that could leave Thibodeaux as the odd man out.