One thing is abundantly clear about the LA Chargers after three weeks: this team has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. And with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations comes the ability to be aggressive during the season to maximize the team's ceiling.
With this in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if this is the year the Chargers pull of a trade deadline deal that shifts the perspective of the Bolts' place in the NFL hierarchy. The Chargers really haven't had a truly ground-breaking in-season trade, and this year could be the year.
The Chargers will get an up-close-and-personal look at one potential trade target in their Week 4 game against the New York Giants. Depending on how the season transpires, the Giants may put edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux on the trade block.
Chargers should keep tabs on Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux as a trade target after Week 4
It's no secret that the Giants aren't one of the premier contenders in the NFL. New York started the season 0-3 and even with a new quarterback under center, there's a very slim chance the season can be salvaged in any way.
Thus, the Giants become one of the teams to watch most near the trade deadline. The Giants are likely to be sellers, and Thibodeaux is one of the best trade chips. ESPN's Dan Graziano previously floated out the idea of Thibodeaux being shopped, which is more and more possible with every loss.
"New York picked up the fifth-year option on edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, so he's signed through 2026," Graziano writes. "But given the Giants' depth in the defensive front seven, they could certainly get calls on someone such as Thibodeaux if they're falling out of contention. He has 1.5 sacks to begin the season."
The Giants drafted Abdul Carter with the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and traded for Brian Burns before signing him to a five-year extension. If there is one position the Giants can shop it's edge rusher, and Thibodeaux is the obvious odd man out.
New York won't give Thibodeaux away for pennies. It's better for the team to hold onto him and see if his value increases before potentially dealing him in the offseason. But if the Giants can get a fair-market trade offer during the season, it would be foolish to reject it as Thibodeaux could also tank his value with an injury or poor performance.
A fair offer may be a third-round pick that converts to a second-round pick if certain conditions are met. This may seem like a high price for the Chargers, but it's important to note the Bolts' second-round pick will be in the 50s or 60s and the third-round pick will be in the 80s or 90s.
It's worth taking that kind of swing for a young edge rusher who would add depth now while also being a potential building block for the future. Thibodeaux would help bridge the gap while Khalil Mack is out and would give the team an overqualified third edge rusher once Mack returns.
The Philadelphia Eagles set the blueprint last year with a dominating defensive front that overwhelmed teams, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Chargers can do their best to achieve a similar outlook by swinging an aggressive trade for a player of Thibodeaux's caliber.
The former Oregon Duck has generated 12 quarterback pressures through three weeks while playing solid run defense. Last season, Thibodeaux generated 38 quarterback pressures in 358 pass-rushing snaps with six sacks, per Pro Football Focus.