Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux addresses rumors ahead of trade deadline

Pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux does not want the 2-5 New York Giants to embrace a fire sale ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline even if the club falls to the 3-3 New York Jets Sunday. 

"I think we have the right pieces — we just have to put them together," Thibodeaux explained during an event at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "I think things are working in the right direction, so I’ll leave it up to the coaching staff and whoever else to make those decisions. But I’m excited by what we have." 

The Giants notched a road playoff win this past January but then disappointed fans by suffering four double-digit losses across the first five weeks of the 2023 season before the NFC East side arguably should've beaten the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 15. Individuals such as Dunleavy understandably noted earlier this month that Giants general manager Joe Schoen could look to rebuild for the second half of the decade by making talents such as cornerback Adoree' Jackson, safety Xavier McKinney and running back Saquon Barkley available before the trade deadline, but that was before Big Blue earned a 14-7 victory over the Washington Commanders this past Sunday. 

Barkley made it known ahead of the Washington game he wanted to stay put and then suggested he's been told he's going nowhere this fall. For a piece published Wednesday morning, ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote that he doesn't think the Giants will trade Barkley by next Tuesday. 

Thibodeaux understands the Week 8 matchup between the teams that call MetLife Stadium home is important for reasons that go beyond who will and won't be in the Giants locker room on Nov. 1. 

"We’re not trying to get too high or too low," he added. "But it will be really competitive and we just have to go play. It’s definitely important — it’s Jets-Giants — and the history is long, but I think it will be fun." 

As of late Wednesday morning, OddsChecker listed the Giants as two-and-a-half-point underdogs against the Jets.