Kayvon Thibodeaux 2022 NFL Draft Profile
This time last year, when we looked way ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft, many analysts picked Kayvon Thibodeaux as the #1 pick of the draft. Fast forward just a few weeks ahead of this year’s draft, and people have him going anywhere from #3 all the way to #14. Social media has been buzzing about a potential slide for the Oregon EDGE rusher, and I just can’t see it. If this guy doesn’t succeed in the NFL, he only has one person to blame. Let’s get into the 2022 NFL Draft Profile of Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Let’s get the obvious right out the way: this dude is BUILT. 6’4, 254 lbs of pure muscle. Nice wingspan and man does he know how to use it. He only did two things at the combine: the 40-yard dash and bench press. Measured out well at 4.58 and 27 reps. The former number one overall recruit coming out of high school in 2019 had all the hype built around him and with good reason. He definitely showed up and showed out at Oregon.
His greatest strength is his run defense ability. Only having 19 career sacks in three years at Oregon isn’t awesome, but he punches well at the point of attack to get by and cause chaos. He uses power moves well against opposing tackles and especially against tight ends, but he needs to add more moves to his repertoire if he wants to take his sack production to the next level. Thibodeaux has a great base, meaning he isn’t likely to be overpowered at the line. Very explosive off the line as well and uses his length to his advantage, again, especially in run defense, and has a high motor.
However, he is hardly a finished product. As previously mentioned, he is not a natural pass rusher so that will be a major focus going into his rookie year. Not everyone can be Micah Parsons when it comes to learning how to rush the QB, but anything close to that level of learning could be dangerous. His play recognition isn’t something to brag about either, and at the next level, he will definitely need to spend time in the video room watching opposing offenses. He isn’t as fluid as someone like Jadeveon Clowney, but he has that level of potential coming out of college that makes him as close to a can’t miss prospect as we have in this draft class.
I briefly mentioned before that if he doesn’t work out in the NFL, it’s going to be on him. Kayvon Thibodeaux has all the tools to be a generational talent coming off the edge in the NFL. The scheme he enters doesn’t matter when you are a player like Thibodeaux. The talk of a potential fall down the draft board is insane to me, and if that does happen your favorite GM should be looking to move up and grab him.
Best Fits: Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, New York Jets/Giants
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