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Leading up to the 2022 NFL draft, there were several lingering questions about Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. However, none of them had to do with his play on the field.
The perceived concern with Thibodeaux was his dedication to his own brand. In fact, the very reason he committed to Oregon as opposed to Alabama was that he felt the former offered more brand-building opportunities.
There is no greater brand-building opportunity than playing in New York.
And as if a prayer had been answered, that’s exact where Thibodeaux ended up. He was selected No. 5 overall by the New York Giants and will now be mentored by Pro Football Hall of Famer and media mogul, Michael Strahan.
But is all of this something that should concern the Giants? General manager Joe Schoen says no and at least one AFC scout agrees with him.
“I think it will be good for him,” an AFC scout told ESPN. “He has a lot of business stuff going on, so that’s a dream scenario for him. Personality wise, a good fit. … Some people want guys who are all ball and care about nothing else, I guess. That’s probably not him. But that doesn’t mean he won’t work hard. I wouldn’t worry about him off the field.”
To his credit, Thibodeaux claims his brand-building has taken a backseat since arriving to East Rutherford. His primary focus is on learning the playbook and readying himself for the 2022 regular season.
“The only thing I can think of now is the playbook and really get into it and dive into it and make sure that I know everything that I can going into training camp,” Thibodeaux told reporters after being drafted.
Thibodeaux still wants to build his brand over time but understands the best way to make that happen is to achieve success on the field first.
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