While placing a wager on improved health during the upcoming season, the Detroit Lions are adamant about returning it essentially in its current form this offseason. There should be a natural correction toward much better luck there because the injury situation couldn’t be much worse than it was the previous season.
Nevertheless, edge rushers are desperately needed in light of all the players that have been re-signed and the cheaper outside additions this side of cornerback DJ Reed. Although there are choices due to the position’s rich draft class, adding a veteran of some kind ought to be considered.
Beyond the hazy possibility that Trey Hendrickson would be available for a trade, there was never any chance of a major move to add an edge rusher this summer. Therefore, finding someone the Lions could deal for will require more research.
Evaluating the trade proposal: Aidan Hutchinson’s draft classmate is acquired by the Lions
Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron identified four clubs that, instead of selecting a rookie to cover a critical need, should make a trade. He suggested Kayvon Thibodeaux, a defensive end for the New York Giants, as a trade target for the Lions.
Despite having a quality group of edge rushers in this year’s draft class, Detroit’s win-now mentality may force the organization to make a trade to make up for the shortfall, as the Lions had tried to do with Za’Darius Smith at the deadline.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, the player chosen three picks after Hutchinson in 2022, is one possible target. Although the New York Giants edge rusher has only once eclipsed a 70.0 single-season PFF pass-rush grade, he hasn’t had the impact many anticipated in New York. However, the correct circumstances could correct the record.
Cameron pointed out that since the Giants selected Thibodeaux with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 selection, he has not made the kind of impact that was anticipated. 2023 was undoubtedly his greatest season to date, as he played in all 17 games and recorded 11.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He missed three games as a rookie and five games last season, accumulating 9.5 sacks during those seasons.
On or before May 1, the Giants will make a big choice regarding Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option and whether or not to extend his contract. In order to optimize his trade worth, Cameron proposed that “now would be the moment.
According to Cameron, “Detroit has the system in place to tap into the pass rusher’s potential, as well as the cap room to support an extension, should the team wish to.” However, it appears that Cameron was unaware of the Lions’ impending contract extensions.
The hypothetical trade cost to acquire Thibodeaux comes next. It’s safe to believe that the Giants have no desire to deal him, or very nearly so, but they can and should demand at least a Day 2 selection pick.
Through joint practices against the Giants in each of the previous two preseasons, the Lions have had a close look at Thibodeaux, whom they worked hard on throughout the 2022 pre-draft process.
On the surface, the Lions’ trade proposal for Thibodeaux seems intriguing. However, the more research done, the less probable it is to be true. The Giants’ likely lack of interest in moving him is the biggest obstacle to the concept. Therefore, the idea of the exchange utterly collapses when one considers if or how it would be carried out in reality.
