The New England Patriots may need to address their edge rusher unit after another injury landed on Harold Landry's doorstep to begin the 2026 NFL season.
The Patriots have a productive unit when healthy, led by Landry and Dre'Mont Jones, with rookie Gabe Jacas expected to produce meaningfully for the team. However, more may be needed.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox labeled Maxx Crosby and Kayvon Thibodeaux as being two star edge rushers that the Patriots ought to trade for in 2026, in the event that they pursue a player to fill their needs in the trade market.
"If another team comes calling about Crosby, the Raiders will undoubtedly listen," Knox said. "They're in the early stages of a rebuild and may not be ready to contend while Crosby is still in his playing prime. The asking price will be high, but teams that believe they can chase a Super Bowl are bound to target him before November 10."
Crosby is a superstar edge rusher who has the talent to take New England over the top in the Super Bowl race. Giving up draft picks and a player or two will do the Patriots much good to stack their roster with Drake Maye, A.J. Brown, Christian Gonzalez, Romeo Doubs and Crosby as the heaviest-hitters on their team.

#super

The New York Giants have a load of talent at pass rusher as they head into the 2026 NFL season. They've used three top-five draft picks at the position over the past five years, bringing in Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, and Arvell Reese, and traded away a second-round pick several years ago to land Brian Burns.
Burns is the veteran Pro Bowl leader of the group, and Reese is the rookie. Thibodeaux has been the oft-injured guy who has become a bit of an afterthought, but don't sleep on him.
Carter? Well, he could be the best of the bunch. The former Penn State star who was compared to Micah Parsons coming out of college in 2025 is poised for greatness. Just ask him. That's his goal.
"I want to be the greatest of all time," Carter told The Athletic.
Not just the greatest Giant or the greatest linebacker. The greatest, period. Muhammad Ali great.

#they 've

Patriots Trade Proposal Lands 11.5-Sack 25-Year-Old From New York Giants originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots will continue to be known for their efforts on the defensive side of the football. Vrabel, a defensive-minded head coach, proved that in his first season at the helm in New England a year ago.
The Patriots, who made the Super Bowl, have to feel pretty confident in something similar happening if they can continue to impress on that side of the football.
New England has already made some big-time moves this offseason, namely going out to land A.J. Brown. It remains uncertain if they want to make another blockbuster deal, but ESPN recently floated the idea of doing so by making a trade with the New York Giants.
Patriots receive: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, 2027 fifth-round pick

#defensive

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — With the New York Giants enjoying their first off day of training camp, let's ***** s the first four days in our traditional "Kudos & Wet ***** " style.
The beautiful setting — This is a gorgeous place. If you love lush green trees, the mountains, open ***** es, fresh air with a lack of humidity, crisp evenings and early mornings, and the feel of having stepped back in time to an earlier era this is the kind of place for you.
Kayvon Thibodeaux — Thibodeaux has taken more reps with the second team than the first team, but no matter. He is a key part of the defense and is being used both on the edge and at times in the old Justin Tuck role as an interior pass rusher. Thibodeaux has made impact plays every day against starters and backups. He seems happy, and could be primed for a big season in his contract year.
Abdul Carter — The second-year edge defender has been impactful throughout the first four practices. Of course, Andrew Thomas and the other offensive linemen are not in pads, making it more difficult to block. Carter might not win Defensive Player of the Year, but he does seem primed to make a big leap in Year 2.
Braxton Berrios — The veteran wide receiver/return man keeps showing up as a receiver. He has made a number of catches each day. It is early in camp, but Berrios is showing he can be a useful player.

#first #four

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — If the New York Giants get the same Kayvon Thibodeaux this season who showed up the first few days of training camp, he'll force his way onto the field and make himself a lot of money next spring.
Thibodeaux tipped a pass from Jameis Winston in the first practice and intercepted one in the second earlier this week, showing flashes of what made him the fifth pick in the 2022 draft. He has been playing mostly with the second-string defense, given edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter also being on the roster.
He brushed that off, along with going into a contract year, as any extra fuel. Still, the Giants very well could get a motivated Thibodeaux after no trade materialized for him at or before the draft, and with a potential payday — likely elsewhere — coming for him in free agency next March.
"You just want to be the best player you can be," Thibodeaux said Saturday. "Keep finding ways to help the team. Keep leading."
Thibodeaux is coming off setting career lows with 2 1/2 sacks, 25 tackles and nine quarterback hits, playing in just 10 games before a shoulder injury ended his fourth NFL season. A reduced role on a unit with Burns and Carter didn't help, and he's not sure where he fits now.

#thibodeaux #season #first #next

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Abdul Carter was dominant, Malik Nabers worked again, Kayvon Thibodeaux made an impact, and fans had fun on a beautiful West Virginia day as the New York Giants held their second practice of training camp.
Here are some of the winners and losers, as well as other takeaways.
Abdul Carter — Carter got the better of Andrew Thomas on Thursday, and let everybody know about it. [More about Carter's big day]
Braxton Berrios — The veteran wide receiver/return man made several catches on Wednesday. He backed that up with another productive day on Thursday. Berrios is making an early impression in the competition for one of the final roster spots.
Dominic Zvada — There were no placekicking sessions in Thursday's workout. On the final play of practice, though, Zvada walked on and drilled a 57-yard field goal after the ball had been clocked by backup quarterback Brandon Allen with :01 left on the clock. Score one for the undrafted free agent in his competition with Ben Sauls.

#made

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh lauded star edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux following the team's second training camp practice of 2026.
In speaking with reporters, Harbaugh raved about the ways Thibodeaux has impressed him with his ability to generate passes defensed in practice this summer after Thursday's session concluded.
"I like to see a lot of that," Harbaugh said of the hands he has seen from Thibodeaux in practice. "That's what you want to see. I mean, he's a pretty athletic guy. He's aware. He does have good hands. The ability to rush the passer and also the awareness to bat **** down is massive."
Thibodeaux is best known for recording 11.5 sacks in the 2023 season, but he has also put up solid numbers in passes defensed, particularly early in his career. The 25-year-old recorded five passes defensed as a rookie in 2022 and four in 2023.
Following a down year in 2025 with New York, Thibodeaux will again be a heavily utilized member of the Giants' edge rusher rotation under Harbaugh. That role will require him to disrupt opposing quarterbacks in the passing lanes next season.

#edge

The New York Giants are less than a week away from opening their 2026 training camp, and we have been previewing the team's various units. Today we look at the edge rushers.
The Giants have been stockpiling edge rushers the past few seasons, using top ****** ets to draft, trade for, and sign high-caliber players.
"I think our defensive front, man, it's scary. I love it. We have – we're almost cursed with too much talent. We have that – we have a matchup problem no matter what team we face. I think just being able to work together and just play off each other and continue to build that chemistry, that's going to be key for us," Kayvon Thibodeaux said.
Thibodeaux may be right. The talent runs so deep that he is currently a backup. This past April, the Giants drafted Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, arguably the best pass rusher in the draft, and are shifting him to inside linebacker due to the logjam.
Bullen is back as one of the few holdovers from Brian Daboll's staff. He served in the same role under Daboll the past two years and was inserted as interim defensive coordinator for the final five games of 2025. He is well-respected among his peers and the players. An astute move by incoming head coach John Harbaugh to retain him.

#thibodeaux #players #defensive

As the New York Giants prepare for the 2026 season under head coach John Harbaugh, outside linebackers coach and run game coordinator Charlie Bullen stands out as an ***** istant poised for greater recognition.
Bullen, who stepped in as interim defensive coordinator late in the 2025 season following a midseason coaching change, quickly transformed the unit with a more aggressive approach that improved pressure, coverage, and overall performance.
His leadership helped revitalize key players, including elevating rookie linebacker Abdul Carter's impact alongside standouts Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence. Bullen interviewed for defensive coordinator positions with the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys this offseason but chose to remain in New York, earning a contract extension and expanded responsibilities.
Accordingly, The Athletic has tabbed Bullen as an ***** istant coach who could break out in 2026.
John Harbaugh has always had an eye for coaching talent, and it speaks well of Bullen's potential that he was retained from the previous coaching regime and even got an expanded role as run game coordinator. His position group already featured Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux; the team also drafted versatile defender Arvell Reese in the spring. Bullen will have every opportunity to show his impact on the defense.

#Coaching #harbaugh #brian

As we head into the NFL's long early summer break, the New York Giants have most of their offseason business ****** oned up. They appear to be ready for training camp, which opens in four weeks in West Virginia, and have few issues to deal with.
First, they have no contract disputes to speak of. Second, they are confident that almost all of their injured players will be ready before the start of the regular season.
There is one situation that is outstanding, however. That is the future of former first-round pick Kayvin Thibodeaux. The linebacker is entering into the fifth and final season of his rookie contract, and the Giants can go in several directions with him this season.

Bills could be perfect trade landing spot for $31 million edge rusher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Buffalo Bills are going to look different in 2026, that much is easy to see.
Joe Brady is entering his first season as the head coach and there's hope that this change in leadership can be what gets the team over the postseason hump. The offense brought in wide receiver D.J. Moore, and the defense notably brought in Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
If there's one area that could still use some reinforcements, it's the pass rush. Yes, Chubb was added, but there's still not much depth behind the veteran and Greg Rousseau. Luckily, though, there could be a perfect trade option who plays not too far away from Buffalo.
Randy Gurzi of Bills On SI recently identified four realistic trade targets for the Bills in July. One of the players listed is Giants' edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux is a former first-round pick who may be getting squeezed out in New York.

Abdul Carter suffers minor ankle injury during New York Giants mandatory minicamp originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter left practice early on June 9 after suffering an ankle injury during the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp. The injury occurred during a team drill, prompting medical personnel to evaluate Carter before he exited the field. Early reports indicate that the injury is not expected to be serious, providing relief for a Giants organization that views Carter as a key piece of its defensive future.
Carter enters his second NFL season after an impressive rookie campaign that established him as one of the league’s emerging defensive stars. Carter recorded 10.5 sacks, 58 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 23 quarterback hits during the 2025 season. His production helped solidify the Giants’ pass rush and earned him recognition among the NFL’s top rookie defenders.
Carter among the highest-graded rookie edge defenders in the league due to his ability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks and disrupt running plays. His development has been a major factor in the Giants’ defensive plans heading into the 2026 season.
The Giants’ defensive front is expected to be one of the team’s strengths, featuring Carter alongside veteran pass rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Given Carter’s importance to the defense, the organization is expected to take a cautious approach regarding his recovery and availability for upcoming offseason activities.

Two of the New England Patriots’ top edge rushers, rookie Gabe Jacas and veteran Harold Landry, are question marks with mandatory minicamp set to take place Tuesday through Thursday. In the two OTA practices open to the media on June 2 and May 27, neither was among the participants.
This comes after the Patriots opted to improve at that position group this offseason, signing veteran Dre’Mont Jones in free agency and selecting Jacas in the second round of the NFL Draft.
New England ranked in the top 10 in the league in pressure rate in 2025, but its top sack producers, Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, only combined for 16 sacks, and a team total of 35 — tying for 22nd in the league. Evidently, the team felt it could upgrade and let Chaisson walk in free agency.
On May 29, appearing on NFL Live, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler listed the Patriots as a potential “sleeper” trade candidate for the New York Giants’ former fifth overall selection in 2022, Kayvon Thibodeaux. New England may also have some ammunition in return, with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte showing apparent interest in a trade out of Foxboro.
With uncertainty currently looming over a group that needed more production, another addition makes sense.