With less than a week until the 2026 season kicks off and the Patriots face the Seahawks in the first game of the year, the conversation about whether they should trade for more players has quieted considerably, despite glaring holes on their defense specifically.
Their pass rush is the most dire, as the room is made up of unproven talent or players who need a good year to prove they belong. That is especially true, given that last year's sack leader, Harold Landry, will miss time at the start of the season, with no clear return date yet.
That should have the Patriots exploring trade opportunities ahead of Week 1, and revisiting some of the players they have been linked to all offseason would be a good start.
Perhaps the most intriguing of all remains Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was considered a trade candidate all offseason after the Giants hired a new head coach and rebuilt their defensive line, pushing the 25-year-old to the back of the starting lineup.
His 2025 season proved that more changes were on the way, and the Giants made them official by selecting Arvell Reese with their first-round pick in this year's draft. He is set to join Brian Burns and Abdul Carter to become the newest explosive trio in New York, leaving Thibodeaux fighting for snaps.
That's exactly why the Patriots should get on the phone.
The Giants might have the help the Patriots desperately need on their defensive line
After a strong first two seasons in the league, in which he recorded 99 combined tackles, 18 for a loss, 29 quarterback hits, 9 passes defended, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 returned for a touchdown, and 15.5 sacks, Thibodeaux has struggled to replicate that success.
Now that he's facing an uncertain future on the field in New York, he's going to be given even fewer chances to return to the kind of player he once was, which should make the Giants that much more interested in moving him for the most return before it's too late.
They already picked up his fifth-year option for this upcoming season and aren't on the hook for any more money beyond 2026, so trading him when he's the most valuable rather than waiting until he doesn't shine much this season would be the right thing to do.
The Patriots should be at the top of the list of teams making the call. Although Thibodeaux isn't considered a playmaker in the same way that someone like Maxx Crosby is, he is still an upgrade to their current linebacker room and will make an immediate impact in the areas where they will be lacking this year.
Of course, trading for a former first-round pick who has played a big role in their defensive success in recent years won't come cheap, and the Patriots might not be willing to give up the draft capital that the Giants are likely going to ask for.
But they may not be looking for anything egregious in return, especially given the proposed trades analysts have discussed this offseason. Most believed Thibodeaux could be moved for something as high as a third-round pick, and that feels more than reasonable for a player with his ceiling and what he could bring to the defense.
Even better, he's still young and hasn't hit his prime yet, so coming to New England would mean they would reap the benefits when the time comes.
At the very least, the higher-ups in Foxboro need to seriously consider what adding Thibodeaux would do for the defense during a season that is already projected to be very difficult, with most already concluding that the Patriots won't make it very far, especially not close to their 2025 success.
Thibodeaux might not ensure they do, but he would certainly make a significant difference, which is enough reason to consider just how valuable he could be for this year's team and beyond.
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