When the New York Giants added Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, they were looking to add a generational talent. As the season quickly approaches, there is still no indication of how good he will be in Year 1, but the expectations are already through the roof. Thibodeaux has already found himself within the top 10 highest-selling jerseys in the UK too to add to the hype.
After being one of the game’s most elite pass-rushers while at Oregon, the excitement surrounding Thibodeaux makes sense. He has proven on multiple occasions how dangerous he can be, regardless of who he is lined up against.
The Giants will be looking for him to make an instant impact on their defense. If all goes to plan, Thibodeaux winning Defensive Rookie of the Year seems like a legitimate possibility. He is in the perfect situation to make the sort of plays that will put him in the right opportunity to bring the award home.
Here are three reasons why Thibodeaux could win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022.
Kaybon Thibodeaux has elite talent
Thibodeaux is highly regarded as one of the most elite prospects that we’ve seen in recent years. His fall to the No. 5 pick left many people confused. He has everything that a team could look for in a modern edge rusher. At 6-3 and 254 pounds, he has the size that teams are looking for. He also has the sort of speed and bend around the edge that makes him stand out.
During his three seasons at Oregon, Thibodeaux played in a total of 30 games. He finished his collegiate career with 126 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. He finished top four in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss in all three seasons. He also finished in the top five in sacks twice.
Thibodeaux has already become a fan favorite on this Giants team, and he seems to be made for New York. He also seems to be the type of player that thrives off of success. If he can make an impact early in the season, it could lead to him never slowing down. A season full of consistent performances could be all it takes for him to bring home the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Impact from Day 1 for the NY Giants
Thibodeaux’s ability to influence all areas of the game will help his case. While he made a name for himself with his elite pass-rushing skills, he has also proven to be a threat in run defense. When looking at this Giants defense, all signs point to him being able to an impact in both of these areas from Day 1.
When looking at how Thibodeaux will be able to impact the Giants pass rush, there are several areas where this could happen. He has become a monster when it comes to creating pressure for opposing quarterbacks. In the 812 career passing downs that he was on the field for, he created a total of 115 total pressures. In that, 73 of these were quarterback hurries and another 20 were quarterback hits. Even without getting the sack, he can disrupt the quarterback and influence the outcome of the play. In 2021, he posted a pass-rushing grade of 91.5 according to PFF.
When looking at how he can impact the run game, it is very similar to what he does on passing downs. He is often able to stop ball carriers in the backfield before they can make a play. He has consistently been among the best at getting tackles behind the line of scrimmage. With a defense that will be suited for what he does, he should be able to find a rhythm early in the season.
Playing on a talented NY Giants defensive line
Regardless of how the unit looked at times last season, the Giants defensive front is still full of talent. Between last year’s standout rookie Azeez Ojulari and the veteran pass-rusher in Leonard Williams, the group has legitimate talent.
Williams is just one year removed from a career-high in sacks when he recorded 11.5 in 2020. Ojulari was one of the most surprising rookies in the NFL last season as he racked up eight total sacks. The duo combined for 130 total tackles, 14.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. They also accounted for 27 quarterback hits. And now Thibodeaux will be added to this unit.
Playing alongside two players of this caliber, while also being able to generate his own pressure, will lead to Thibodeaux falling into favorable matchups. Defenses will have to account for all three pass rushers. This should allow for each player to make an impact early and often. The pressure will also be slightly alleviated as if one struggles, the other two can carry the weight.
If Thibodeaux can generate enough favorable matchups, his statistics at the end of the season could have him at the top of the defensive class. Other rookie edge rushers such as Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson or Jacksonville’s Travon Walker aren’t going to be with groups that already boast talented rushers. Much of their success will be fully reliant on what they can do by themselves. This could also help Thibodeaux separate himself from the pack.