The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Kayvon Thibodeaux 2022 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge Rusher
Size: 6-foot-5, 250 pounds
Class: Junior
2021 stats: 49 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles
Thibodeaux has been on the NFL Draft radar since he started his collegiate career. Now, he is ready to see where he might be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
He was the top-ranked player in his recruiting class by several outlets. Thibodeaux started making his impact right away for the Ducks, picking up nine sacks as a freshman. His play had him named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and made him a Freshman All-American, while Oregon made the Rose Bowl. In seven games during the 2020 season, Thibodeaux recorded three sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. The Ducks went to a second-straight New Year’s Six Bowl Game that season, earning a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Even though he had some injuries that limited him to 10 games, Thibodeaux had seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2021. His play helped the team make the Alamo Bowl, but he opted out for the bowl game.
Thibodeaux couldn’t do much more to improve his stock, so he opted out of the bowl game and declared for the draft as a junior. He is a projected top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Thibodeaux has great burst at the snap of the ball on most plays. He has a quick first step, which puts him at an advantage for the rest of the play. Because he has such a quick first step and some speed on the edge following that, Thibodeaux can have offensive linemen scrambling early in plays.
His length and athleticism are an elite combination for Thibodeaux. He fits the mold of an NFL defensive end at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, but his long arms help him disengage blockers with regularity. On top of that, he is more athletic than most defensive ends and can win on the edge with his speed and flexibility. He wins as a pass rusher because of his length and athleticism.
While most edge defenders earn recognition for their ability to get after the quarterback, Thibodeaux is also a very good run defender. He maintains good gap integrity and executes his assignment. On top of that, he can shed blocks and make plays on the ball carrier. His pursuit is great for a defensive lineman, as he can track runners down with his solid motor.
Right now, Thibodeaux wins mostly because of his physical traits. He needs to work on developing a pass-rush plan and adding more pass-rushing moves to his game. In college, he could have registered more sacks with pass-rush moves. Next season in the pros, he may need them to win more consistently against professional competition.
He is a little slim for his height at 250 pounds. Thibodeaux has shown the ability to win with his strength, but in order to do so more consistently, he can add more muscle to his frame. The NFL will feature stronger tackles, so Thibodeaux will need to prepare for that.
At Oregon, he had trouble crashing the mesh points on read options and allowed opposing offenses to have big gains. He is usually good at reading where the ball is going, but he needs to stay disciplined in these scenarios and attack the mesh point, instead of going after the possible ball carrier.
Projected Draft Range: Top 5 Pick
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