Nowadays, NFL teams are always in the market for an impact edge rusher, which is why Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux is on the radar as a top-5 pick and as potentially the top overall pick. There is no doubting that Thibodeaux has high-end talent and is a potential difference-maker at the next level. But will he be able to translate his potential into production in the NFL and fulfill his great promise?
College Career
Thibodeaux was the High School Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time High School All-American, making him one of the top recruits in the country. He had no problem living up to the hype during his freshman season at Oregon in 2019, racking up 14 tables for a loss, including nine sacks.
Of course, he only played seven games as a sophomore in 2020 with the Pac-12 playing a shortened season. Thibodeaux then sprained his ankle in the season opener in 2021. But after missing two games, he was still able to collect seven sacks in 10 games, earning All-American honors and giving him the easy decision of foregoing his senior season and declaring for the NFL Draft.
Pros
Even if his stats aren’t eye-popping, Thibodeaux has athleticism that does. His first step is phenomenal and has helped him create havoc coming off the edge. In fact, the only reason he didn’t collect more sacks in college is that teams frequently chipped and double-teamed him.
When he’s matched up one-on-one, Thibodeaux has the kind of explosiveness and speed that’s on part with some of the elite edge rushers in the NFL. With a 6’5’’ frame and good length, he can also get his arms up and knock down passes when he doesn’t get to the quarterback. Thibodeaux also has good strength and holds up against the run better than people realize. Plus, he should continue to fill out his frame and get stronger during his first few seasons in the NFL.
Cons
Of course, Thibodeaux is far from a finished product, so he will need to make sure he gets stronger. Also, because he boasts such impressive athleticism, Thibodeaux can rely too much on his natural gifts and not enough on his technique.
Opposing teams will occasionally be able to take advantage of that running in his direction and using his aggressiveness against him. Finally, Thibodeaux has missed time due to injury multiple times during his college career, so it’s fair to wonder whether he may continue to be an injury-prone player.
Projection
While there are some reasonable concerns with Thibodeaux, his athleticism and high upside easily outweigh them. He’s been able to handle the hype and attention that come with being an elite high school recruit and has at least come close to living up to expectations during his three years at Oregon.
Thibodeaux’s combination of size and athleticism gives him the potential to develop into one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers. Even if he doesn’t quite get there, he should be a productive pass rusher for many seasons. This makes him a candidate for the top overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and makes it impossible to envision him falling outside of the top-5 picks.