With the conclusion of Super Bowl LX where the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13, the NFL offseason is officially here.
Perhaps no team will have a more intriguing offseason than the New York Giants under new head coach John Harbaugh. With free agency starting next month, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen will have to decide which free agents to pursue and which of their own free agents they’ll try to keep.
In addition, they’ll need to consider moving on from players who are currently under contract for 2026. Here are the three players the Giants should consider moving on from this offseason.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
A shoulder injury limited Kayvon Thibodeaux to appearing in just 10 games this season. He finished the year with 25 tackles with two and a half sacks. In his four seasons with Big Blue, he’s played in 53 games and has 152 tackles, 23.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
The 25-year-old pass rusher is entering the final year of his contract, and if the Giants brass doesn’t have plans for him beyond 2026, they need to trade him. It was clear this season that Brian Burns and Abdul Carter are the two best pass rushers on the team. So the team is equipped to move on from Thibodeaux.
One of the many miscues Joe Schoen has made during his tenure with the team is letting talented players walk out the door without getting anything back in return. Thibodeaux has talent and is entering his prime, but with Burns and Carter as the team’s premier edge rushers, Thibodeaux’s playing time would be expected to decrease anyway.
In the best long-term interest of the team, they should try to trade him for a mid-round pick or another player in return. If they don’t, they risk him leaving after next season via free agency and receiving nothing in return.
Deonte Banks
When Schoen traded up one slot to take Deonte Banks with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the hope was that he would be a mainstay of the defense for the remainder of the decade. But Banks’ three years with the club have been an utter disappointment.
In three years, he has just two interceptions, and those came in his rookie season. But worse than his inability to come away with interceptions is the lack of discipline and effort he’s shown.
There was optimism he could salvage his career as a kick returner after his 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Giants’ 34-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17. But in the season finale, we saw more subpar play from him.
When John Harbaugh mentioned during his introductory press conference that they need players who love football, some may have thought that was an indirect shot at Banks. The indication is that the team will not give the 24-year-old corner his fifth-year option this offseason, which could be an indication that they’re looking to move on from him.
Jalin Hyatt
When the Giants traded up to take Jalin Hyatt with the 73rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, there was excitement that he would bring about explosive plays in the passing game. But to this point, the speedy former Tennessee Volunteer wideout has been a bust.
In his three seasons with the Giants, he has 36 receptions for 470 yards and has yet to find the end zone. The biggest issue with Hyatt is his route running, where he telegraphs his routes and at times, doesn’t finish his routes. This had led to interceptions and missed opportunities.
2025 was his least productive year as he appeared in eight games and caught five passes for 35 yards. He seemed to fall out of favor with head coaches Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka, and when the team brought receiver Isaiah Hodgins in the middle of the season, he was instantly more productive than Hyatt.
Hyatt has exceptional speed and will turn 25 in September, so there might be another team that believes they can find a way to utilize his speed and might be willing to trade a late-round pick for him. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract, and if a team shows any interest in acquiring him, New York needs to jump on that opportunity. Based on what we’ve seen from Hyatt in three years, it’s doubtful he would win a roster spot in training camp, so they need to get whatever they can for him before he’s eventually cut.
Related: New York Giants Add Another Former NFL Head Coach to John Harbaugh’s Staff
