How serious are the New York Giants about drafting Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with one of their two top-10 selections in the 2022 NFL draft?
Pretty serious.
On Friday, the Giants not only sent general manger Joe Schoen to Oregon’s pro day, they sent a whole contingency.
All 32 teams at @oregonfootball pro-day for Kayvon Thibodeaux & Verone McKinley workouts, including big groups from Lions (7), Seahawks (7) & Giants (5). Smart teams also taking in-person opportunity to hit up new HC Dan Lanning about all the Top-50 talent he coached at Georgia. pic.twitter.com/Vb15zDcF0G
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 1, 2022
Thibodeaux did not participate in the vertical jump or the 40-yard dash but he didn’t have to after clocking a 4.58 40 at last month’s NFL Combine. He did participate in the broad jump, though, registering an attempt of 9 feet, 11 inches.
The Giants are in the market for pass rushing help and with Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson likely to be off the board, the Giants are eyeing Thibodeaux, Georgia’s Travon Walker and Jermaine Johnson II of Florida State as possibilities with either the fifth of seventh overall selection in the draft.
Thibodaeux has had his desire for the game questioned by experts during the pre-draft process despite his massive productivity at Oregon. He was once considered the clear-cut choice to be the overall first player taken. That negative buzz has caused him to slip in the order, albeit just slightly.
The 6-foot-5, 258-pound Los Angeles native is not letting the outside noise in. He is keenly aware of his abilities and how they will translate at the next level.
“The most ridiculous thing I’ve heard is that I’m not the best player in this draft,” Thibodeaux told reporters. “I really don’t listen to anything else, but that to me, that’s outrageous.
“With the film, with the numbers and what I can do as far as my ability, I have confidence in what I can do.”
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