Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux celebrates Abdul Carter draft pick after trade whispers

Kayvon Thibodeaux seemed to be thrilled with the Giants’ decision to draft standout defensive end Abdul Carter.

Big Blue opted to go with the talented Penn State product with the No. 3 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, setting up a potentially potent defensive line this season with Carter and Thibodeaux. 

“Yeah we going crazzyyy!!!!” Thibodeaux wrote on X after the selection was made. 

He also shared the Giants’ post about drafting Carter on his own feed. 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter after he is selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There had been some speculation that the Giants could move on from Thibodeaux with the selection of Carter, but general manager Joe Schoen confirmed to the media after making the pick that the Giants would pick up the star’s fifth-year option. 

“Kayvon’s going to be here. We’re excited to have him. You can’t have enough pass rushers,” Schoen told reporters.

The news doesn’t come as that much of a surprise after The Post’s Paul Schwartz reported the Giants were “likely” to exercise the option in Thibodeaux’s contract. 

Thibodeaux didn’t appear to be the only one excited to have Carter in the fold going into next season. 

Giants head coach Brian Daboll seemed pretty happy with the pick while sitting at the podium at the Giants’ practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J.

Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) reacts after sacking Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the second quarter of the Giants and Dallas Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Daboll said he sat down for breakfast with Carter when he visited his daughter during a parents’ weekend. 

“We had a great breakfast, a great meeting. He’s a great kid, he’s an exceptional player,” Daboll said. “He’s got great quickness, bend, he’s hard to block, he played off the ball the year before and he had some instincts in that area as well. Smart, just had a really great meeting with him.

“He’s got a great personality, he’s a lot of fun to be around and he’s a good football player.”