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Watching the NFL draft coverage start to ramp up has been a bit disheartening for fans of the Oregon Ducks because it has seen their No. 1 prospect, Kayvon Thibodeaux, continually fall in the mock draft projections.
Going into the 2021-22 season, it was hard to imagine anyone but Thibodeaux would be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, but after injuries derailed his final season with the Ducks, Kayvon became a disputed first guy off the board. Then, as the draft process started to really get into motion, Thibodeaux continued to drop down the mock draft boards, his fall spurred on by the criticism from ESPN’s Todd McShay that he doesn’t have the competitive fire to be a top overall pick.
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Now, as we get about a month away from draft day, the mocks tend to agree with each other, and there’s largely a consensus about where players are going to end up. For Thibodeaux, that appears to be near the back-half of the top-10, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
7. New York Giants (via CHI)
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
This pick is logical for the team and for the prospect. The Giants’ top pass-rusher last season was rookie Azeez Ojulari, who led the team with eight sacks, and they have to improve on the edge. This is their best chance to add a young, talented defensive end. They can afford to use this pick on Thibodeaux, who has a high ceiling but was inconsistent in 2021.
If Thibodeaux puts it all together, you’re talking about All-Pro-level talent. But if he doesn’t build out secondary moves and can’t improve his all-around game, he could struggle. He has the type of physical traits NFL teams love, but taking that guy in the top 10 is risky. If New York passes on Thibodeaux, keep an eye on cornerback or linebacker with this pick.
The notion that taking Thibodeaux at No. 7 might be too early for the Giants is one that is hard to swallow for Oregon fans who had aspirations of seeing their star pass-rusher be one of the first guys off the board, but it’s important to remember that however far he drops on the board, it becomes more likely that he will succeed early in his career after landing with a better team.
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The draft is just about a month away, so we will see the coverage ramp up in the coming weeks.
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