Kayvon Thibodeaux is as gifted an EDGE rusher as anybody
For quite some time, Oregon product Kayvon Thibodeaux was seemingly a lock to be the top player off of the board in whichever NFL draft he chose to enter.
This, in itself, made him an unrealistic option for the New York Jets— an edge-needy team that, unfortunately, holds the No. 4 pick in a draft that features two stud edge rushers.
But then something funny happened along the way …
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Thibodeaux is actually falling to No. 4 in a bunch of mock drafts.
For example, the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, a close friend of Jets general manager Joe Douglas, had Thibodeaux falling into the Jets lap in his latest mock. Aiden Hutchinson’s rise, along with Evan Neal’s power, is making Thibodeaux’s slip to No. 4 at least a potential possibility.
The question remains, “Should the freak edge with all the physical traits slip to No. 4?”
How does Thibodeaux stack up against top edge rushers of years past? Should the Jets count their blessings if he drops to No. 4? What is his ceiling?
All of these questions are answered in the latest edition of Blewett’s Blitz.
YouTube clip and podcast episode
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Explosive
- Decent bend
- Solid flexibility for size
- Closing explosion
- Shows ability to counter
- Good overall athlete
- Power
- Power through bend
- Core strength
- Shows ability with clubs, tips, swinging rips, arm overs, ghost and bull-rushes
- Carrier explosion from two, three and four-point stances
- Can set a strong edge
- Power and point of attack
- Rushes from both left and right side
- Shows ability to stack blockers well
Weaknesses
- Can take himself out of rushing plays
- Needs to stack instead of guessing in the rushing game
- Could be quicker to diagnose plays
- Needs work shedding blocks with more consistency
- Could be more prepared for the punch of O-line
- Could condense feet/hands while rushing
- Needs to use a variety of pass rush moves more often
- Needs to take more direct angles to work through blockers on the bull-rush
- Needs work on counter moves
- Lack consistent pass rush plan
- Can soften edge with angles
- Needs to stack moves with more consistency
- Can play a little out of control
- Caught in bad spots vs. misdirection
- Hand usage can be cleaned up
- Hand accuracy
- Spotty effort
- Can play high
- Needs to link hands and feet
Other Notes
- Battled ankle injury in 2021
- Seems to win more in the second half of games
Member-only (full) film breakdown
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If he doesn’t fit in with the culture Saleh and Douglas are trying to build, then the Jets don’t need him.
Does he have the “want to” to succeed? Why has he underwhelmed and not dominated despite being so immensely talented? Why is effort a concern with him? Is he just relying on physical skills and not putting in the work to actually BE a professional? So many red flags on this kid. So many questions and concerns. Maybe I’m just gunshy on taking an Edge from Oregon since Dion Jordan took a huge dump on the NFL stage.
I want him at #4