Giants trade rumor may result in Day 2 draft deal with Patriots, Packers or Lions

Giants trade rumor may result in Day 2 draft deal with Patriots, Packers or Lions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Trade rumors have circulated around New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux all offseason long.

It's logical why that's the case. After all, Thibodeaux is entering the final year of his contract and doesn't appear to have much of a future with Big Blue thanks to the Giants also having Brian Burns and Abdul Carter.

And this is the right year for the Giants to unload an edge rusher, as they could replace Thibodeaux if they see fit in what is a deep draft at the position.

Kayvon Thibodeaux trade rumor

According to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, the feeling around the league is that Thibodeaux could get moved by Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and quite possibly sooner.

"But Thibodeaux has been the center of trade rumors for years and there is a strong expectation among rival general managers that he will be gone by the second day of the NFL draft two weeks from now… If not sooner," La Canfora wrote.

When asked about Thibodeaux's future and if he could be traded last week, head coach John Harbaugh noted "everybody's tradable," so a deal cannot be ruled out.

Kayvon Thibodeaux trade compensation

Kayvon Thibodeaux New York Giants

As far as what kind of return the Giants can expect, unnamed executives polled by La Canfora said Harbaugh and Co. would probably take a third-round pick, and there's even a scenario where a fourth-rounder might get it done.

“I think Thibodeaux is gone if they can get a third for him,” one exec told La Canfora. "That’s a guess, but it’s a deep edge class."

“If he likes what’s still on the board after Day Two (round three), maybe he just takes a four (fourth-round pick),” another exec said. “He’s not the guy who took Thibodeaux at five, remember.”

Two things that will make it difficult for the Giants to get max value is the facts that Thibodeaux is on the final year of his deal and has been disappointing the past two seasons. He's posted just eight sacks the past two seasons while also dealing with injury.

However, if the Giants wait until the trade deadline, Thibodeaux's value could be even lower because he could just end up being a half-season rental. Also, if Thibodeaux doesn't rebound, that will only hurt his value further.

Now might be the best time to trade the former No. 5 overall pick.

Patriots, Packers, Lions potential Thibodeaux suitors?

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel

Mar 31, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

All three teams need edge rusher help, so they're logical potential suitors.

The New England Patriots haven't addressed their need opposite Harold Landry, which is now more dire after the departure of K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency.

Green Bay traded away Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys and, outside of Micah Parsons and Gary, nobody on the team had more than four sacks last season.

The Lions are another team that lost a starting edge rusher after Al-Quadin Muhammad departed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.