The New York Giants made one of the more surprising moves of the first round Thursday night, selecting edge defender Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick. But despite adding yet another pass rusher to an already crowded room, the organization’s stance on 2022 fifth overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn’t changed.
According to Adam Schefter, the Giants do not intend to trade Thibodeaux following the Reese selection, reinforcing earlier indications that the former top-five pick remains part of the team’s
plans moving forward. The report, shared Thursday evening, signals that New York views its growing stable of edge rushers as a strength rather than a surplus to be trimmed.
That decision comes even as the Giants continue to invest heavily at the position. Reese now joins a group that includes Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter, giving new head coach John Harbaugh an abundance of options to deploy in his defensive front.
Harbaugh addressed the speculation surrounding Thibodeaux earlier this week, offering a response that left the door slightly ajar while still expressing confidence in the 2022 first-rounder.
“I’m excited to see him in this defense,” Harbaugh said, before adding that “everybody’s tradable” when pressed on the ongoing chatter.
That nuance matters.
While the Giants are not actively shopping Thibodeaux, Harbaugh’s comment reflects a broader NFL reality — nearly any player can be moved if the right offer emerges. Still, the current expectation is that Thibodeaux will remain in New York as part of what could be one of the league’s deepest pass-rushing units.
From a roster-building standpoint, the approach suggests a clear philosophical shift. Rather than allocating resources across multiple position groups, the Giants are doubling down on a premium trait: the ability to pressure the quarterback.
If it works, New York could overwhelm opposing offenses with waves of edge talent. If not, questions about positional redundancy — and whether assets could have been better distributed elsewhere — will only grow louder.
For now, though, the message is clear: Reese’s arrival does not signal Thibodeaux’s departure.
But in the NFL, “not intending to trade” and “untouchable” are rarely the same thing.
