The Minnesota Vikings might need a slight roster deficiency at exterior linebacker after buying and selling Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles final month, and Fansided says one of the simplest ways to repair that could be a commerce for New York Giants defender Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The value could also be manageable if New York ever retailers the previous No. 5 choose.
A number of free-agent EDGE rushers are additionally on the open market, however Jake Beckman claims Thibodeaux is the way in which.
Brian Flores Might Use One other Younger EDGE Piece
For probably the most half, Vikings followers would approve of this transaction.
New York Giants defensive finish Kayvon Thibodeaux prepares earlier than a sport on Sep. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The previous first-round defender emerged as a central piece of the Giants’ defensive entrance throughout his rookie marketing campaign whereas showcasing explosiveness and pass-rushing upside early in his NFL profession below the intense primetime lights. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Fansided: Thibodeaux to Vikings by way of Commerce Makes Sense
Beckman recognized one commerce candidate per staff this week, and on Thibodeaux to Minnesota, he wrote, “The Vikings traded Johnathon Greenard to the Eagles during the draft, and now they’re going to be missing out on a whole lot of snaps and even more production. Luckily for them, the Giants are sitting there with a plethora of defensive ends and edge rushers.”
“New York might be saying that they’re not going to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, but that’s what every team says, so they don’t lose leverage in any potential trades. If the Vikings wanted to go and get him, they’d definitely be able to… However, if you’re a Vikings fan, that’s probably not what you want.”
4 years in the past, Thibodeaux was thought-about one of many subsequent massive issues within the NFL.
Beckman continued, “Sure, Thibodeaux would end up being awesome, but I don’t necessarily want my team to make any trades when they don’t have a general manager. Especially after they just traded a player like Greenard for the low price of two third-round picks.”
Thibodeaux’s Manufacturing
Interested by Thibodeaux’s monitor report? We’ve received it. These are the numbers:
2022: 4.0 Sacks | 45 Pressures | 13 QB Hits | 14 Gms2023: 11.5 Sacks | 43 Pressures | 16 QB Hits | 17 Gms2024: 5.5 Sacks | 38 Pressures | 17 QB Hits | 12 Gms2025: 2.5 Sacks | 32 Pressures | 9 QB Hits | 10 Gms17-Sport Avg: 7.5 Sacks | 40 Pressures | 18 QB Hits
And his Professional Soccer Focus scorecard since 2022:
2022: 72.5
2023: 58.4
2024: 69.0
2025: 66.0
It’s price noting that Thibodeaux’s tackling has waned during the last two seasons; he’ll want to enhance it earlier than too lengthy.
Potential Commerce Value
NFL commerce packages notoriously differ, however for Thibodeaux, an staff might need to pony up the equal of a Third- or 4th-Rounder. The person does stress quarterbacks, and he’ll at all times have the fifth total draft choose inventory from 2022.
For instance, if Minnesota wished him, a deal might need to appear to be this:
Vikings Get —Kayvon Thibodeaux2027 Fifth-Rounder
Giants Get —2027 Third-Rounder
Minnesota notably doesn’t have a 4th-Spherical choose subsequent 12 months due to its ill-fated Adam Thielen commerce in 2025. What’s extra, the Vikings have an additional Third-Rounder in 2027 due to the aforementioned Greenard commerce to the Eagles final month — maybe extra firepower to land a notable EDGE by way of commerce.
New York Giants defensive finish Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) battles Cincinnati Bengals guard Hakeem Adeniji (77) throughout a preseason sport at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 21, 2022, in East Rutherford. Thibodeaux flashed his pass-rushing capacity towards CCincinnati’soffensive line because the Giants evaluated younger defensive expertise throughout preseason motion forward of the common season opener. Obligatory Credit score: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK.
The Athletic‘s Dan Duggan noted on Thibodeaux’s commerce value in April, “The Saints were the team most interested in trading for Thibodeaux, however, according to a league source. The problem was the sides weren’t close on potential compensation.”
“The Saints’ best offer is believed to have been a fourth-round pick (No. 132), while the Giants were seeking a second-round pick — the Saints had the 42nd selection. The Saints moved on, instead sending a fifth-round pick to the Raiders for defensive end Tyree Wilson and a seventh-round pick.”
In-Home Choices at OLB
If the Vikings don’t seek the advice of a commerce for a 3rd move rusher, they’ve a couple of choices behind the starters, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. The primary is rookie Jake Golday. Minnesota drafted him as an off-ball linebacker, however he performed some EDGE in junior faculty earlier than taking the plunge at ILB in Cincinnati. Flores might deploy Golday like Van Ginkel, a hybrid OLB-ILB.
Flores additionally has two undrafted free-agent exterior linebackers: Bo Richter and Tyler Batty. A kind of males could possibly be prepared for a breakout, no less than in OLB3 phrases, and if that’s the case, Minnesota would wish no Thibodeauxs.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter (98) strains up towards the Los Angeles Rams throughout an NFC wild-card matchup at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona. Richter contributed on protection and particular groups as Minnesota battled the Rams in postseason motion through the opening spherical of the NFC playoff bracket. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
In any other case, the free-agent market has names like Denico Autry, Derek Barnett, Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Marcus Davenport, A.J. Epenesa, Leonard Floyd, Cameron Jordan, Von Miller, Haason Reddick, and Kyle Van Noy.
Thibodeaux will flip 26 in December. He’s proper in the midst of his prime. He’ll additionally want a brand new contract between now and subsequent March.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
