Following yet another disappointing season, the New York Giants have made aggressive moves in an effort to rebound. However, significant weaknesses remain on both sides of the ball. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are under intense scrutiny to return the Giants to playoff contention. Sure, they have addressed certain roster needs through free agency. That said,, there is still considerable work ahead. For New York to build a sustainable contender, they must execute one more crucial transaction—one that may sting in the short term but is essential for their long-term aspirations.
Giants Free Agency Recap: A Mixed Bag of Moves
The Giants took a proactive approach in free agency. They focused on bolstering their defense after a rough 2024 campaign. Recognizing the need for reinforcements, they added promising young defensive backs Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland. Both of them bring high upside and should play significant roles in 2025. Additionally, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris was signed to provide depth in a run defense that struggled last season.
On the offensive side, the Giants addressed their persistent quarterback woes by bringing in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Yes, this duo provides more stability than last year’s disastrous QB rotation. Still, the solution feels more like a temporary patch than a long-term fix. Of course, Wilson is an upgrade. However, his one-year contract suggests that Daboll and Schoen are focused on immediate survival rather than securing a true franchise quarterback. They could find themselves in a difficult position moving forward. This is especially true if the Giants fail to land one of the top prospects in the upcoming draft. Sure, Wilson may deliver more wins in the short term. However, New York remains a likely non-playoff team lacking a definitive long-term plan. As such, the Giants need to continue building depth.
Here we’ll try to look at the perfect trade that the New York Giants must complete after the 2025 NFL free agency frenzy.
Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Saints
With much of free agency in the rearview mirror, the Giants must shift their focus to the trade market to maximize their assets. The ideal move? They should send star edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for valuable draft capital. Yes, parting ways with Thibodeaux would be a tough pill to swallow for Giants fans. That said, the logic behind this trade is simply too compelling to ignore.
The Giants find themselves in a unique roster predicament. On one hand, their young talent is either considered untouchable. On the other hand, their veteran players don’t hold significant trade value. Thibodeaux, however, fits into a different category. He is a talented player with enough upside to draw interest from multiple teams.
The former fifth-overall pick showed flashes of dominance last season. He earned a respectable 72.0 PFF pass-rushing grade despite logging just 593 snaps. Sure, reports suggest that the Giants will pick up his fifth-year option. However, that shouldn’t entirely rule out a trade. Schoen could opt to move on from Thibodeaux, bypass the option decision, and instead invest in a younger pass-rusher through the draft. Remember that they can potentially have someone like Penn State’s Abdul Carter at third overall.
On the other side of the equation, the Saints are desperate to revamp their defense after a disastrous 2024 season. They’ve retained Chase Young and bolstered their secondary with Justin Reid. However, losing Willie Gay leaves them with a major hole at linebacker. Yes, Thibodeaux still has areas to refine. That said, his youth and upside make him an intriguing addition to a Saints defense in need of a spark.
The Right Move for New York
At first glance, dealing away a young, talented pass-rusher might seem counterintuitive for a team looking to rebuild. However, the Giants need to take a broader, long-term perspective. The reality is that Thibodeaux alone isn’t enough to transform them into a contender. Even with his contributions, the Giants still struggle against the run. They have an inconsistent offensive line and still lack a long-term franchise quarterback.
Moving Thibodeaux for draft picks would provide New York with the ammunition needed to accelerate its rebuild. The Giants must prioritize roster construction wisely. Of course, pass-rushers are valuable, but championship-caliber teams are built around elite quarterback play, a sturdy offensive line, and defensive depth. If trading Thibodeaux lands them a high draft pick that leads to a franchise quarterback or a cornerstone offensive lineman, it’s a move worth making.
Additionally, the Giants could reinvest in their defensive front with younger, more cost-effective options through the draft. By strategically reallocating their resources, they’d be setting themselves up for a more sustainable future. If New York wants to truly turn the page and build a long-term contender, dealing Thibodeaux for premium draft capital is a necessary step forward.
Looking Ahead
The Giants find themselves at a crossroads, and their path forward requires bold decision-making. While trading Kayvon Thibodeaux would be a tough pill to swallow, it’s a move that aligns with the franchise’s long-term goals. The NFL is a league where teams must be willing to make difficult choices to set themselves up for sustained success, and this trade could provide the Giants with the draft capital they need to reshape their roster. If New York truly wants to build a future contender, embracing a forward-thinking strategy—one that prioritizes key positional needs over emotional attachments—is the only way to go.
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