### **Who’s the Odd Man Out in the Giants’ Edge Rusher Room? Maybe… No One**
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, Giants fans were buzzing. With top prospects Cam Ward and Travis Hunter expected to be off the board by the time the Giants picked at No. 3, the talk turned to linebacker/edge stud Abdul Carter. He was seen as a rare talent — maybe even “generational.”
But Carter wasn’t the only name in the spotlight. Kayvon Thibodeaux, a former No. 5 overall pick, had been solid but not spectacular. Plus, the team hadn’t picked up his fifth-year option yet. Then came the surprise March signing of Chauncey Golston, and the debate hit full speed: Would GM Joe Schoen commit to Thibodeaux, or draft Carter and move on?
The answer? He did both. The Giants drafted Carter **and** picked up Thibodeaux’s option. Instead of choosing between them, the team doubled down on pass rush talent.
Now, the big question is: **How are they going to get all these guys on the field?** Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen summed it up perfectly:
> “You’ve got three guys for two spots. It’s a good problem to have… We just need to figure out how to get our best 11 on the field.”
This situation might feel new to today’s fans, but it’s not uncharted territory for the Giants. Back in the 2000s, they were loaded at edge rusher too — think Strahan, Umenyiora, Tuck, and Kiwanuka. Tuck barely started early in his career, but still managed 10 sacks in 2007 and played a massive role in their Super Bowl upset of Tom Brady. So yeah, this kind of “problem” can lead to rings.
Still skeptical? Just look at two of the Giants’ toughest rivals.
**Philly’s loaded front** had five edge rushers getting serious playing time last year. They didn’t need to shift guys around much — just rotated them often and kept everyone fresh. The result? A relentless pass rush that even gave Patrick Mahomes nightmares.
**Dallas did the same.** While their rotation was a bit smaller, guys like Micah Parsons and Chauncey Golston (now a Giant!) were used smartly and aggressively.
Now compare that to the Giants last year. Only Brian Burns and Thibodeaux had over 200 pass rush snaps. Azeez Ojulari was close, but outside of that, it was thin. Burns and Thibs were playing a ton — maybe too much.
Here’s where Carter and Golston change the game.
If Carter takes some of the workload off Burns and Thibodeaux — and Golston fills in for Ojulari — it evens out. Everyone gets a manageable number of snaps. And Carter could even rotate in at off-ball linebacker, his college role. That would help keep Bobby Okereke from getting worn down too.
Bottom line: If the Giants manage this rotation right, there doesn’t have to be a “loser” in the edge rusher room. This could turn into a high-powered, well-balanced unit that just overwhelms offensive lines.
And if history tells us anything — from the Strahan-Tuck days to the Eagles’ recent success — that kind of depth at edge can take you a long way.
The Giants’ Edge Game Is Spinning—Who’s Falling Off the Ride?
