Giants Get Tough Reality Check on Trade Value for 6-Foot-5 Enforcer

The New York Giants have a few key pieces of the defense swirling around the trade market before the 2026 NFL Draft next week.

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The Giants have reportedly reached an impasse with Dexter Lawrence and are speaking to teams about trading the defensive tackle.

Earlier this month, Giants head coach John Harbaugh didn’t rule out the possibility that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux could be traded this offseason.

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Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated argued that even if New York wanted to trade Thibodeaux this offseason, they might not find a market for the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

“Here's the reality: He's in a contract year and has missed far more games (12) than he's had sacks (8) over the past two years, after a breakout second season through which he had 11.5 sacks,” Breer wrote. “The athletic potential is still there, but how much does that mean to another team?

“What would push you to give him up? Maybe a third-round pick? And if I'm the Giants, I might do it for that, as they don't have a third right now. But the other way of looking at this is that the Giants would be giving up on a guy they drafted with the fifth pick, who could have a breakout year and bring home a compensatory third-rounder after the season if he does.”

Breer suggested the Giants would be wise to be patient with Thibodeaux, who could be a key part in a rotation that included Brian Burns and Abdul Carter.

The Giants brought in Harbaugh with the hopes he could immediately make the team a postseason contender. It probably wouldn’t be in the best short-term interest for New York to lose Lawrence and Thibodeaux in the same offseason.

Lawrence would certainly fetch more than Thibodeaux in a trade, though keeping the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle would be preferable.

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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:08 PM.