One player the 49ers could potentially trade for if the draft doesn’t fall their way

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 02: Kayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the New York Giants rushes against Trent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers during the game on November 2, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The upcoming NFL Draft is expected to have more trades due to the lack of depth. It makes sense for a team like the San Francisco 49ers to potentially move up, whether that’s if a prospect falls in the first round or if they feel like they need to jump into the third round.

There are plausible scenarios in which teams peruse the remaining prospects on the board, only to look elsewhere to fill their needs. I think we’ll see more draft picks in player trades than expected.

The 49ers’ signing Cam Sample won’t alter their draft plans. It certainly doesn’t take them out of adding an edge rusher at some point during draft weekend.

One player the 49ers should be interested in is Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants. According to some reports, “The more people you talk to, the more likely it seems that former top-five pick Kayvon Thibodeaux is headed elsewhere.”

Thibodeaux only appeared in 10 games for the Giants last season. He dealt with a lingering shoulder injury that landed him on the Injured Reserve in December. This upcoming year will be the final season Thibodeaux is under contract. His cap number is $14.75 million in 2026.

The 49ers currently have $26 million in effective cap space, so they’d have plenty of room for their upcoming draft class as well as Thibodeaux’s contract. It’s also worth noting a contract extension would save whichever team roughly $10.82 million this upcoming season, per Over the Cap.

Here’s an NFL executive on the cost of a potential Thibodeaux trade:

“I think Thibodeaux is gone if they can get a third for him. That’s a guess, but it’s a deep edge class. If I were the Giants in Year 1 of a new program, I would be tempted to move both players [Dexter Lawrence] in separate deals for a 1( or the equivalent of a first-round pick on the trade chart), two threes and a useful player or two.”

Another executive said, “If he likes what’s still on the board after Day 2, maybe he just takes a four. He’s not the guy who took Thibodeaux at five.”

That’s where the 49ers would come swooping in. Let’s say the Niners weren’t able to land an edge rusher with their first two picks. Packaging multiple fourth-rounders for a former top-five pick stepping into this situation makes plenty of sense.

Thibodeaux was primarily an edge rusher for the Giants. While he may not have the reputation of a pure speed player, like Bryce Huff, Thibodeaux was in the top-10 for defensive linemen in get-off times last season at .081, right behind Huff’s 0.80. It goes without saying that Thibodeaux would be an upgrade on early downs, but you’re not asking him to be “the guy” on obvious passing downs. Simply to contribute.

It’s an inexpensive option that improves your football team without sacrificing premium draft capital. You’re also buying low on a player win the final year of his rookie contract who had 11.5 sacks in the lone season he played every game. That’s worth a Day 3 flyer.