Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, once considered a surefire top-5 pick in this month’s draft, is reportedly in danger of falling out of the top-10. That is largely due to concerns not about his physical abilities, but about his effort and coachability. As Justin Rogers of the Detroit News writes, Thibodeaux said at this year’s scouting combine, “I tell a coach that there’s nothing he can tell me that I don’t already know, right? It’s because I’m honest with myself and I watch the tape. So if you’re a student of the game you know what you can get better at.”
However, the Lions could save Thibodeaux from his rumored tumble down draft boards. According to Rogers, Thibodeaux is still “very much in the conversation” for Detroit’s No. 2 overall pick.
The Lions have a clear need for a pass rusher, which is why they have been connected to Thibodeaux and Michigan edge defender Aidan Hutchinson throughout the predraft process. Thibodeaux’s collegiate production — which includes three sacks in seven games in 2020 and seven sacks in 10 games in 2021 — has not been enough to offset the questions about his intangibles, but it should be noted that, last season, he posted those seven sacks and 12 total tackles for loss while playing through an ankle injury.
His size (6-5, 250), and impressive combine performance are further evidence of his high ceiling, and the Lions have thoroughly evaluated him. The club met with him at the combine, had GM Brad Holmes and others in attendance at his pro day, and will bring him in for a top-30 visit this week. Head coach Dan Campbell said of Thibodeaux, “[h]ey, listen, he’s an explosive athlete. He’s a playmaker. He’s got a good, quick first step. I mean, he’s something else. He’s pretty special on tape.”
The Lions are willing to trade down from the No. 2 pick, but if they keep it, Campbell is looking for a player who can contribute from Day 1 (in other words, probably not a QB prospect from a 2022 class whose shortcomings have been one of this year’s most-discussed draft topics). “That’s really what you’re trying to acquire, a guy that you can feel like can come in and he’s going to be able to have solid production for you,” Campbell recently said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I mean, that’s kind of the idea. We need to feel like, all right, this guy comes in, it may take just a little bit, but you’d like to believe by the time you hit your first game that this player’s starting for you and is going to be able to produce.”
Though Campbell did not rule out the possibility of selecting a quarterback with the No. 2 pick if the team falls in love with a passer, he also suggested that having an elite QB is not necessarily a prerequisite for long-term success. When combined with his desire to nab an immediate contributor with his top draft choice, Campbell’s sentiments leave the door open for a Thibodeaux selection, though there are plenty of other non-quarterback prospects who figure to make an impact right away.
This whole Thibodeaux deal reminds me of the smokin’ hot girl that every guy wants. She has the perfect body, smile, hair, etc….. but she KNOWS it!! Sure, she’s eye candy, but also a mega B——- that feels entitled. In the end, no guy wants to be around her because of her drama. I hope I’m wrong….
And you remind me of an incel who thinks it’s a character flaw if a woman shows any awareness of the attractiveness by which you’re choosing whether or not to value her.
Man that’s an overreaction. He specified one type of girl not all women.
Yeah, and it’s a tell when your first example of someone unlikeable is a girl who has too much attitude about having all the qualities you objectify. It’s also a weird leap about an athlete you’ve heard some vague, anonymous comments about.
What? It’s the NFL draft not the Kardashians lmao
Who knew that Jason Whitlock posted on PFR?
God forbid a guy have a big ego about being unusually good at the thing you’re hoping he’s unusually good at.
I’m good with knowing they are good. It’s another thing to alienate your coaches. They can absolutely teach you the schemes they run. He doesn’t know everything
Do coaches only coach guys who act like sweet little boys?
Ego from a guy that hasn’t played a down in the NFL is definitely a red flag. Usually only grows when he gets paid.
Teams will regret it if they pass on Thibs and Stingley in the top 10. Think their narratives are overblown.
Thibs could have easily shut it down after hurting his ankle and still been a first round pick. Maybe his motor isn’t always running hot but that’s what a good coach is for.
Stingley was the best corner in the country as a true freshman in the SEC but now Gardner is better?
Feel like teams overreact sometimes when evaluating prospects.
I’m with you on most of that completely, but Gardner has really nailed everything and I get taking him and his competition concerns over Stingley and his injury and consistency concerns.
Don’t get me wrong, Stingley is going to be a good player. You can’t take away what Gardner did in college either. Guy didn’t let a TD get scored on him. The thing that is pushing Stingley down right now is his health.
The Lions are in a great situation. They should walk away with a great player at number 2 almost no matter what they decide to do.
I’m torn between Thibodeaux and my surprise pick Jordan Davis.I would rather have either of those 2 @ pick 2. But I just don’t think Davis is gonna get past Atlanta.Or do the unthinkable Lion like… we can make a trade with the Jets @ 3 so u can have pick 2 & 3 select Thibodeaux & Davis. You will have your dominant bookend in Thibodeaux,then ur clogger up the middle with Davis along side Alim in the 4-3 defense.Damn that would be scary…!!!!!
Davis scares me because of his reluctance to lose weight except for the combine and total in game snaps. Not on the field enough to warrant #2 overall. Stop the nonsense and just take KT.
I don’t think the Lions drafted DTs in the second and third rounds last year to *drastically* over-draft a nose tackle this year.
What would they trade to get #3 and draft a DT? Whatever it is, it would make no sense for either team…
we’ve seen guys like Davis go round 2 in the past.
he could be an exception, but normally these guys don’t go top 30
Davis is such an outlying physical specimen that he’ll almost certainly go top 20, but I personally wouldn’t.
he’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Terrence Cody, Daniel McCullers
he just happened to play on a spotlighted Georgia D.
he’s a run stopper who won’t play 3 downs unless he cuts about 35+ lb.
….that said, there’s a couple contending teams who could really use a big run stopper and he seems an immediate fix in that department for a 1-2 year span even if he’s not a good longterm option
Kayvon “I’ll be as good as Clowney if u draft me” Thibodeaux
ooof
Well gosh, it would be damning if he said that thing he didn’t say.
Detroit is not taking a QB or DT (especially since they drafted two back to back last year). DE CB and if they love LB Devon Lloyd, they trade back (even if it’s light-missing a 4th round pick), and draft him. My uber crazy mock is KC coming up to 2 by trading both of their first round picks , their 2nd 3rd & 4th round picks, for Detroit’s #2 & 2nd round pick #34
Only knock on my ppls (Clowney) are sustaining ticky tack injuries…(my cousin thru marriage)….If DamionClark(LSU) & the kid from Michigan (Ojabo)that got recently hurt were to fall deep in the draft, I would scoop them up…stash them on the practice squad.Wait til they are healthy ready to play.Take a chance on those types of guys.You’ll never know how they turn out.