It has been an eventful offseason for Kayvon Thibodeaux, to say the least. The 24-year-old has been... busy. Immediately after the New York Giants selected Abdul Carter third overall, the team picked up his fifth-year option.
Ever since, his name has been in just about every trade prediction imaginable. Headline after trade speculation after more headlines. Exhausting. Those have quieted for now, but Thibodeaux’s media tour has since taken off — lofty sack goals, new workout regimens, and admitting what he needs to do to become more than a glorified situational pass rusher.
To that note, KT says his goal this year is to finish plays. He feels like he’s left too much meat on the bone, and figures it’s because of his lack of follow-through in the backfield. While that sounds insightful (his 5.5 sacks in Year 3 would suggest he’s not wrong), that’s not the actual problem standing in his way of becoming an elite edge threat.
Monday's practice did more than just humble the 24-year-old — it exposed the exact thing holding him back. Thibodeaux’s real problem isn’t finishing sacks. His problem is that he’s trying to be someone he’s not.
Kayvon Thibodeaux needs to take a nice, long look in the mirror
It’s time for KT to grow up. He got absolutely dawged by James Hudson, and while the way it happened was embarrassing enough, it’s even worse to get up and immediately get in his face pretending to be a tough guy.
During the last rep of 1v1’s, James Hudson clubs Kayvon Thibodeaux almost causing our first camp fight. Andre Patterson gathers the unit afterwards and has some words with them pic.twitter.com/NRXPaLrzJt
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) July 28, 2025
He needs to just finish the rep, take the loss, and move on. Trying to play enforcer after getting rag-dolled sends the exact wrong message, especially when people are watching.
What’s there to say after that anyway? Who are you to talk after getting tossed through planet Earth like that? Thibodeaux is supposed to be locked in this offseason. He’s publicly said his goal in 2025 is to chase Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5 sacks.
Reps like Monday’s won’t get him any closer.
Thibs just has to be more mature than this. His pouting and mouth are writing checks his body can’t cash.
Unsurprisingly, this wasn't the first altercation he’s had this offseason. During OTAs, there was an incident with Jermain Eluemunor where Thibodeaux actually took off his helmet and threw a punch at the lineman. Funny enough, it was Hudson who came to Eluemunor’s defense.
Look, no one’s saying you can’t play with some fire. If trash talk gets you going, go ahead. But the problem for Thibodeaux is that it just hasn’t worked. It feels like a facade. Like he’s forcing it. The “I’m a tough guy” routine is getting old fast. Fans don’t want to watch their former fifth overall pick get into fights with teammates at training camp.
Maybe if he spent more time in the weight room and working on technique instead of trying to scrap with everyone who beats him in a drill, he’d be further along by now. But hey, that’s irony for you.