Big Blue View
The New York Giants arguably have the best trio of edge defenders in the league. The combination of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter is an explosive group of edge benders that benefits from a force of nature pushing the pocket, named Dexter Lawrence.
Independent of Lawrence, though, the trio consists of all 27 or younger individuals with immense potential. Burns is coming off a 61-pressure season, during which he battled injuries throughout. Thibodeaux recorded 38 pressures in 358 pass rushing snaps (he missed five games in the middle of the season).
Then there’s the addition of Carter, who played one season on the edge for Penn State. He was a menace for the Nittany Lions and recorded 66 pressures. Both Carter and Burns’ ability to win high-side fits Shane Bowen’s WIDE-9 fronts well. Thibodeaux’s skill set has developed, and he continues to refine his abilities.
Burns had a 23% pass rush win rate (PRWR) in 2024 (fourth among NFL EDGE rushers). Thibodeaux’s PRWR was 14.2%, but that was more than double his 2023 season; he ranked 16th in the statistic in 2024. Carter’s pass rush win rate was 22.9%, which led the FBS in 2024.
There are several questions surrounding the 2025 edge group for the Giants, but my primary question is — can this group live up to expectations?
The Giants defense has a lot to prove — and I don’t want to put the cart before the horse — but this group is immensely talented. If the rest of the Giants team can hold up their end of the couch — score points on offense, positive game scripts, stop the run, etc. — then this edge group can be special.
Carter's versatility is an asset. He can be utilized across the entire defensive front and handle various responsibilities at a high level. His fluidity in space will allow Bowen to devise unique simulated pressures, and Bowen’s stunt/twist game should be exciting with Carter’s presence on the team.
However, Carter’s best usage will be on the edge in passing situations where he can pin his ears back and stress offensive tackles. Carter still aligned 90 times at his former position of linebacker in 2024. He’ll likely receive snaps in the A-Gap in passing situations, and some sub-packages may allow Carter to play a hybrid edge/linebacker role.
Carter should have a multi-role deployment that keeps offenses guessing and is based on the opponent’s game plan. This should be useful against mobile quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts. The packages that Bowen can deploy with Carter, Thibodeaux, and Burns — along with Lawrence and players like Darius Alexander and Chauncey Golston — should keep offensive line coaches up at night.
Thibodeaux’s career warrants respect. He’s not a bad football player, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to his reputation nor his TOP-5 pedigree. Yet, he’s recorded 126 pressures over three seasons with 21 sacks and...
