Packers named as potential landing spot for former top-5 pick with big upside at premium position to fill significant need
The Green Bay Packers' big investment at the defensive end position this offseason was taking Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round of the draft. It's not exactly what analysts and fans were expecting after an underwhelming season from the defensive front in 2024. Well, there is still time to make a move if general manager […]
The Green Bay Packers' big investment at the defensive end position this offseason was taking Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round of the draft. It's not exactly what analysts and fans were expecting after an underwhelming season from the defensive front in 2024. Well, there is still time to make a move if general manager Brian Gutekunst wants it.
The New York Giants traded for and extended Brian Burns a season ago, and this year the team drafted Abdul Carter with the third overall pick. There's a scenario where that combination makes former fifth overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux tradable, and he would be the type of move the Packers would philosophically be willing to make.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox put together a list of realistic trade targets before the regular season and potential suitors, and the connection between the Packers and Thibodeaux showed up.
"New York Giants pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn't quite played up to his billing as a 2022 first-round pick yet, but he's hoping to change the narrative in 2025.
If Thibodeaux is going to reach double-digit sacks for the second time in his career, he may have to find a new team. The Giants traded for Brian Burns last offseason and just used the third overall pick on pass-rusher Abdul Carter.
The Green Bay Packers should also be interested in adding Thibodeaux. They only had one player (Rashan Gary) record more than five sacks last season and didn't add any edge help this offseason before taking Barryn Sorrell in Round 4." — Kristopher Knox
The Packers tend to be cautious to trade future assets, but Thibodeaux is exactly the type of player who would make sense. Unlike Trey Hendrickson and TJ Watt, for instance, he's only 24—seven months older than Lukas Van Ness. It's possible that, as Gutekunst likes to say, his best football is ahead of him.
Even though he regressed to some degree in 2024, the edge rusher has already played at a high level in the NFL, reaching 11.5 sacks in 2023. There's proof of concept to show his value.
The Giants would obviously want real draft compensation, but anything short of a first-round pick would look like a good bet for Green Bay.
Drafted in 2022, Kayvon Thibodeaux is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal. However, the Giants exercised his fifth-year option, so he's under contract through 2026. The acquiring team would pay $4.978 million this year and $14.751 million in 2026, a team-friendly amount of money evaluating the edge market. Even his extension doesn't look prohibitive. Spotrac projects that the edge defender will get a three-year, $61.287 million contract ($20.4 million per year), which is way below what the Packers gave Rashan Gary two seasons ago.
It's always complicated to make moves combinating draft picks and a high salary. But Thibodeaux is still cheap, making a trade much more feasible.
There’s a major misconception about Jordan Love right now, and it’s leading to flawed projections for the 2025 Packers offense
Health was a bigger factor than confidence
