Big things to come for Theo Johnson, Kayvon Thibodeaux?
Could several Giants make a big jump in 2025?
Pro Football Focus' Thomas Valentine recently predicted the NFL's most improved players at every position this season. Two Giants landed on the list at their respective positions - tight end Theo Johnson and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.
"Johnson was part of the reason Tyler Warren didn't fully break out in the Penn State offense until his senior season, and the Giants' fourth-round pick went on to start 11 games in his rookie season before a foot injury cut his season short..." wrote Valentine. "Johnson caught just 11 passes for 115 yards in his first seven games of the season before kicking it up a gear and catching 18 passes for 216 yards in the next five games. In truth, Johnson's season ended just as he was starting to find a groove, unfortunately halting his momentum. However, the circumstances for his return and the offensive environment he'll find himself in in 2025 are far greater. The Giants' 64.4 grade on offense in 2024 was 29th in the NFL, but with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, or even Jaxson Dart at quarterback, there should be more consistency on offense.
"The hope is that Johnson can pick up from where he left off in the back half of the 2024 season and continue to grow into a secondary pass-catcher for the Giants. Malik Nabers will naturally be the number one option on offense, but with a whole offseason under his belt, Johnson could become a real hit in 2025."
Johnson finished his rookie season with 29 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown across just 12 games. The yards ranked third among rookie tight ends, while his 29 receptions ranked fourth.
As the article states, the young tight end was starting to pick things up before suffering his season-ending foot injury. He registered 35+ receiving yards in each of his last five games, including a season-high five receptions for 54 yards in his final outing.
Two of his final four games resulted in 50+ receiving yards.
Similar to Johnson, Thibodeaux was also starting to pick up steam at the end of the season.
"From Weeks 13-18, Thibodeaux earned a 79.2 pass-rushing grade, 13th among edge rushers in the NFL, generating 21 pressures and 11 stops in that time," Valentine wrote. "Ending the season on a high, playing some of the best football of his career, only serves as a positive for Thibodeaux.
"The strength of the Giants' defense could help. The defensive front could be one of the best in the NFL in 2025 with the three edge defenders, Dexter Lawrence, whose 93.4 grade is the highest among defensive tackles since 2022, and excellent depth along the line. More players capable of rushing the passer means higher quality pass-rushing opportunities."
It was only two seasons ago that Thibodeaux recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks while starting all 17 games.
While his sack numbers may have dropped in 2024 (5.5 sacks across 12 games), Thibodeaux was still getting after the quarterback. The outside linebacker finished with a career-best 17 quarterback hits last season, one more than his previous high of 16 set in 2023, despite playing five fewer games.
His 38 total pressures were also just five less than his career-high of 43 set the previous season, according to PFF.
View practice photos from OTA No. 5 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Brandon Jacobs
S Tyler Nubin (27)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
Brian Daboll
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
Brandon Jacobs talks to the running backs RB Devin Singletary (26), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), RB Dante Miller (25), RB Eric Gray (20)
QB Jaxson Dart (6),QB Jameis Winston (19)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Nic Jones (31)
Brandon Jacobs
OLB Trace Ford (46)
CB Nic Jones (31)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Brandon Jacobs
Brandon Jacobs
CB Deonte Banks (2)
LB Chris Board (49)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
ILB Ty Summers (47)
S Jevón Holland (8)
Brandon Jacobs, Brian Daboll
Brian Daboll
S Jevón Holland (8)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
K Graham Gano (9)
Brian Daboll
Brian Daboll
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DT Cory Durden (69)
K Graham Gano (9)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
DT Kyler Baugh (99)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Mike Kafka
CB TJ Moore (30)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Mike Kafka
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RB Rushawn Baker (36)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
RB Eric Gray (20)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Tommy DeVito (15), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Da'Quan Felton (9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
RB Dante Miller (25)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) and QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
S Jevón Holland (8)
CB Nic Jones (31)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
ILB Ty Summers (47)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
CB O'Donnell Fortune (39)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
WR Jordan Bly (12)
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2025 cycle.
DL Darius Alexander - Selection List Signing (June 2)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selection List Signing (May 30)
OLB Abdul Carter - Selection List Signing (May 22)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
CB T.J. Moore - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
DB R.J. Delancy III - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
DB Tommy McCormick - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selection List Signing (May 9)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selection List Signing (May 9)
CB Korie Black - Selection List Signing (May 9)
RB Rushawn Baker, WR Jordan Bly, WR Dalen Cambre, WR Beaux Collins, DB R.J. Delancey, WR Da'Quan Felton, OLB Trace Ford, DB O'Donnell Fortune, DB Tommy McCormick, DB Makari Paige, TE Jermaine Terry, WR Antwane Wells, OL Jaison Williams - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 9)
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (May 8)
CB Korie Black - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 246 overall) (April 26)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 219 overall) (April 26)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selected in the 5th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 154 overall) (April 26)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selected in the 4th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 105 overall) (April 26)
DL Darius Alexander - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 65 overall) (April 25)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 25 overall) (April 24)
LB Abdul Carter - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 3 overall) (April 24)
DT Ross Blacklock - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 15)
QB Jameis Winston - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
LB Ty Summers - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
QB Russell Wilson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 26)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Exclusive Rights Signing (March 26)
WR Zach Pascal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
OL Greg Van Roten - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 19)
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
CB Paulson Adebo - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
S Jevón Holland - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
DL Chauncey Golston - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL James Hudson III - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
LB Chris Board - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Stone Forsythe - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Re-signed (March 12)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris - Free Agent Signing (March 10)
P Jamie Gillan - Re-signed (March 8)
TE Chris Manhertz - Re-signed (March 8)
QB Tommy DeVito - Re-signed (March 8)
OLB Tomon Fox - Re-signed (March 7)
LS Casey Kreiter - Re-signed (March 5)
WR Montrell Washington - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
CB Nic Jones - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Reserve/Future (January 6)
K Jude McAtamney - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
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