The New York Giants drafted a future star with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That exciting young talent was pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux out of Oregon.
The former Ducks edge rusher totaled 4 sacks as a rookie and established himself as a premiere young talent in the league. But entering his second season, Thibodeaux is ready to take things to the next level and establish himself as a superstar.
Kayvon turned up the heat in the second half of the season
After failing to record a sack in his first three career games, Thibodeaux finally got one in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens. On the final drive of the game, Thibodeaux got to Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, sacking him and forcing a fumble to win the game for the Giants.
Thibodeaux then went into a second sack drought, failing to sack the quarterback for the next five weeks. But the rookie finished the season strong, totaling three of his four sacks in the final five games of the regular season.
Thibodeaux listed as Giants’ breakout candidate
As Thibodeaux embarks on his sophomore campaign, he is beginning to garner attention as a breakout candidate. The Athletic recently listed one breakout candidate for each team entering this season. Thibodeaux was named the Giants’ top breakout candidate entering 2023.
“Thibodeaux’s rookie season featured flashes of the talent that compelled the Giants to use the fifth pick in the 2022 draft on the outside linebacker. The hope is that Thibodeaux can build off his potential to become a game-wrecking presence off the edge. His advanced metrics as a pass rusher ranked much higher than his four sacks last season, so there’s reason to believe Thibodeaux will make a greater impact in Year 2 when he converts pressures into game-changing plays.”
Dan Duggan of The Athletic
Giants legend gives Thibodeaux a glowing review
When it comes to elite pass-rushers, Michael Strahan is up there with the very best. The Giants legend and Hall of Famer gave a glowing review of Kayvon Thibodeaux last month, saying the second-year pass-rusher is a player who has “a lot of value to the franchise.”
“This is a guy I know is going to be a great player for the Giants,” Strahan told the New York Post at the Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic. “I know he has the worth ethic, he has the desire and as much as you say ‘He’s outgoing, he talks, he does this,’ the guy really works at it, and that’s what I respect about him. It’s not like he’s just saying it and going off raw talent and ability. He’s saying it because he believes it. Because he puts in the work to make it happen.”
Michael Strahan on Kayvon Thibodeaux