The New York Giants have done their due diligence on many different prospects leading up to the 2022 NFL draft, but general manager Joe Schoen doesn’t attend every Pro Day and workout. Oftentimes, Schoen sends his coaching staff to evaluate players, but this time around, he decided to make the trip himself to watch Oregon stand-out pass rusher, Kayvon Thibodeaux.
According to Art Stapleton of USA Today, the Giants are sending their biggest dog to watch Kayvon Thibodeaux.
It’s why Giants general manager Joe Schoen is making the trip to Eugene, where he’ll closely watch Thibodeaux during the Oregon Pro Day on Friday, an individual with knowledge of the situation told NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network.
Thibodeaux impressed at the NFL Combine, meeting with several teams in the top-10 for formal interviews. Thibodeaux said that the Giants tested him thoroughly, giving him a “big brother” attitude trying to decipher how he might react to certain elements in the New York media market.
Thibodeaux is arguably the top pass rusher in this year‘s draft class after posting 7.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 49 total tackles, and two forced fumbles this past season. While his numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, he has well-developed pass rush moves and a combination of speed and strength that stand out on film.
Clearly, Big Blue believes they will have a good shot at landing him with the 5th overall pick if the New York Jets don’t steal him one spot ahead. Nonetheless, Schoen making the journey to Oregon to view Thibodeaux himself clearly indicates the Giants’ interest in the 6’5″, 250-pound edge rusher.
Given his charismatic personality and love for the spotlight, Thibodeaux and the Giants may be a match made in heaven.
“With Thibodeaux I think the Giants are a really good spot; will he get coached up enough to maximize that? The want-to has got to be there as well with these guys,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said on a recent conference call. “It goes both ways; you got to want to be great and they got to have the ability and plays to make you great.”
If he’s coached up properly, he could be one of the most dangerous pass-rushers in the NFL down the line. With Andre Patterson (defensive line coach) coming over for the Minnesota Vikings and Wink Martindale taking over as the team’s defensive coordinator, Thibodeaux would have phenomenal coaches around him to help spur growth.