The New York Giants are not expected to trade edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux, per multiple reports.

There have been calls from fans and the media to trade Thibodeaux since the team selected Abdul Carter 3rd overall in last year’s draft. Those calls only increased in volume following the blockbuster trade of Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals.

Ian rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the trade of Lawrence has made trading Thibodeaux less likely.

At the same time, Rapoport’s colleague (and former Giants’ beat writer) Mike Garafolo is reporting that the Giants are picking up the phone, but teams will need to meet a high price to pry Thibodeaux loose. Garafolo writes that it would take “the right price” and compares it to the 10th overall pick the Bengals traded for Lawrence.

The Giants want to be strong along the defensive front, and Lawrence wanting out of the franchise doesn’t signal a change in that philosophy. Thibodeaux is better than he gets credit for around some parts of the national media — and some parts of the fanbase, for that matter.

It’s worth remembering that the last time Thibodeaux was allowed to be an aggressive pass rusher in a “Baltimore 2.0” defense, he racked up 11.5 sacks, was seventh in True Sack Rate (between Danielle Hunter and Maxx Crosby), and had a penchant for delivering game-changing plays in high-leverage situations. He was asked to be more disciplined and a run defender first the last two years under Shane Bowen. And to Thibodeaux’s credit, he did markedly improve as run defender, though it was at the expense of pass rush production.

Nobody is untradeable, and the Giants should pick up the phone to listen to teams’ offers. If a team in desperate need of an edge defender makes an offer that blows them away, they should at least consider it.

However, their pass rush depth is one of their strengths, as is the versatility that Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Thibodeaux all present. Being able to disguise intentions and dictate to the offense with aggressive, versatile, and athletic defenders is a hallmark of this philosophy.

The Giants don’t want to just give away a player who was drafted for this defensive philosophy, has played well within it, and could make them better.