The Tampa Bay Buccaneers addressed their immediate need at edge rusher by signing two-time Pro Bowler Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal on March 10. However, they might find a more lasting solution at the position through a trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, involving 24-year-old New York Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
There’s speculation that the Giants could move Thibodeaux — the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — especially if the 2025 draft unfolds as predicted: Miami quarterback Cam Ward going first to the Titans, Colorado’s Travis Hunter second to the Browns, and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter landing in New York with the third pick.
The Giants haven’t exercised the fifth-year option on Thibodeaux’s rookie contract (a four-year, $31.3 million deal) and already invested heavily at the edge position by acquiring Brian Burns and giving him a five-year, $141 million extension in March 2024.
Gagnon suggests the Buccaneers might be able to acquire Thibodeaux in return for a 2025 third-round pick (No. 84 overall) or a 2026 second-rounder.
“Pro Football Focus ranked Tampa Bay’s pass rush in the bottom third of the league, with most of their sacks in 2024 coming from inside the line rather than off the edge,” Gagnon noted on April 23. “Even with the addition of the talented but unpredictable Reddick, they still need reinforcements.”
Tampa Bay’s 2024 pressure was largely generated by interior defenders, with Calijah Kancey (7.5 sacks) and Vita Vea (7.0 sacks) leading the team.
From a highly-touted recruit at Oaks Christian in California to becoming the No. 5 pick in 2022, Thibodeaux had a standout college career at Oregon — earning Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2019, two All-Pac-12 nods, and All-American recognition in 2021. He totaled 19 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss in three seasons.
While his NFL performance has drawn mixed reviews, his numbers — averaging 8.3 sacks and 18 QB hits per 17 games over his first three seasons — suggest steady production despite the Giants’ struggles. New York finished 3-14 in 2024, matching their worst season in the past half-century, and have gone 9-25 over the last two years.
The Giants may also be active in trade discussions as they reportedly have eyes on Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and might pursue a first-round pick to make that happen.
If New York is serious about acquiring Dart, Tampa Bay might be tempted to offer their No. 19 overall selection in a package for Thibodeaux plus additional picks.
In his 12th draft as general manager, Jason Licht has only used a first-round pick on an edge rusher once — selecting Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at No. 32 in 2021. Tryon-Shoyinka disappointed in 2024, posting career lows across the board before signing a one-year, $4.75 million contract with the Browns on March 11.