Lions-Giants trade pitch adds $31 million missing piece to Detroit's defense

Mike Moraitis

Lions-Giants trade pitch adds $31 million missing piece to Detroit's defense image

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No matter what Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes say, the team has a major concern along the edge.

While the Lions will be getting Aidan Hutchinson back from injury this season, the situation across from him is troubling. Marcus Davenport will get the nod opposite Hutchinson, but he's anything but reliable given his injury history and lackluster career production.

The Lions should be scouring the market for any chance to upgrade the position from now until the trade deadline and one player to keep an eye on is New York Giants edge rusher, Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Thibodeaux was recently listed among trade candidates by Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox and the Lions were listed as a potential suitor.

Here's the deal Knox is proposing:

  • Giants get: 2026 second-round pick
  • Lions get: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux

The Giants' former No. 5 overall pick, Thibodeaux has tallied 21 sacks in 43 games over three seasons in the NFL. He had a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2023 and posted another 5.5 in 12 games in 2024.

Not elite production by any stretch, but the Lions don't need an elite edge rusher. Thibodeaux is more than sufficient to take pressure off Hutchinson and he could really explode with defenses so focused on the Michigan product.

The problem is that Thibodeaux isn't likely to be available this early.

After all, Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are fighting for their jobs and Thibodeaux is an important piece to the defense.

That said, there is a realistic scenario where the Giants are out of it by the trade deadline and decide to sell off some pieces, including Thibodeaux, who is set to enter the final year of his $31 million rookie deal in 2026.

The Lions should be fine with their current group for the regular season, so they can afford to wait until Thibodeaux is available. And if that happens, Detroit absolutely should pounce.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.