When the college season began, many felt Kayvon Thibodeaux was a lock for a top-five pick, if not to go first overall in this April’s draft. Now, however, other prospects have emerged to the point where questions are being asked about his safety at the top of the board. As Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network writes, many within scouting circles are raising red flags about him. 
Pauline notes that concerns related to Thibodeaux’s work rate on a play-to-play basis popped up within team members at Oregon this past season. He adds, “that same criticism has been expressed here at the Combine by scouts”. While playing through an ankle injury, he points out, Thibodeaux added to his impressive production, notching seven sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Over his three years in Eugene, those totals sit at 19 and 35.5, respectively.
Between those those statistics and his frame – six-foot-five, 258 pounds – Thibodeaux is still seen as having an extremely high ceiling. However, more emphasis than usual is being placed on his team interviews, according to Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports. He notes that concerns are being raised regarding “his effort on the field and whether his big personality will be a perfect fit with every locker room”.
For his part, Thibodeaux responded to questions about his intensity level by saying: “I feel like when you talk about fire, fire is kind of correlated to what someone has in the heart. And I don’t feel like anyone else can dictate what a person has in the heart. So I don’t really look into it. I know it’s entertainment, I know everybody has a job to do. But I do feel like the Combine is going to be a place where I can put all of the questions to rest”.
During the interview process, he has listed Jadeveon Clowney as a comparable: “I mean, he’s a guy who was great, but he didn’t have all the skills and the tools as far as… pass-rush skills and things like that… I feel like I’m kind of a build off of him. I’m like Jadeveon 2.0″. The fact that questions are already being asked if Thibodeaux could be the next physically-gifted edge rusher who doesn’t live up to the hype makes that comparison a striking one.
Thibodeaux will have the chance – along with other highly-touted edge rushers, including Aidan Hutchinson – to showcase himself further at the Combine on Saturday.
I wouldn’t mind him falling to 14
Right? What about falling to 20 please!
Only way he falls out of the top ten is an injury or new report of an actual bad thing he did. He’s a project compared to Garrett or Bosa coming out, but that’s not a huge indictment, and this draft class doesn’t have much in the way of super elite prospects. He’s a freaky athlete with strong production as a pass rusher and he won’t turn 22 until December. He’s not gonna fall much if at all.
Bosa also had questions about his perceived lack of interest coming into the draft. Of course, those questions were put to rest, but I think your comparison is good in that respect.
This definitely feels like one of those “he’s too talented to fall to us, but if we besmirch his character through the media, maybe he’ll fall just enough to where we can trade up without selling the farm” kind of things.
He got some technique to refine, but the athleticism is there, and then some. The right coach will really matter for this young man.
Well, he’s not doing himself any favors by comparing himself to an underachiever like Clowney.
For sure. Horrible comp
I can’t imagine he falls past the Giants at #7. They may pass him up at #5 for an Offensive Line, but not #7.
This is the way I feel about it. Unless some huge red flags come up or a injury, this would be the floor for him IMO. Way too good and the potential is there for him to be a force to be reckoned with.
Just sounds made up
These situations take on a life of their own because the media machine needs drama to get eyeballs and ratings. Once a prospect gets labeled like this, true or not, they are going to get churned through the machine until the draft is over.
This “chasing the shiny object” mode that our media has become is damaging in so many ways, whether in sports or politics.
Made up? So those quotes are not things he actually ever said? And his own words hit on the questions the scouts have on him.
The presumption that he is “falling in the draft” sounds made up. But way to jump to a conclusion.
Shades of Ryan Leaf. The ego seems to be off the charts with this guy. He would be a perfect fit for Cowboys.
How is this anything at all like Ryan Leaf?
Over hyped prospect, hes gone from potentially #1 to falling down draft boards.
Big personality that might not fit well in locker room
Concerns about effort levels
Back in the day people thought leaf would have the better career than manning, including many gms at the time
link to thebiglead.com
Thibodeaux might not be overhyped and just because there are some anonymous concerns about his personality doesn’t mean he’s a Ryan Leaf level character problem. Leaf was also a worse college player.
Its not anonymous. Many football analysts whove watched more game film than you or I ever will, cause its their job, have expressed concerns about thibodeaux effort level.
On tape.
And have highlighted the fact hes disappeared in games. On tape.
This isnt some imaginary made up issue lmao. People are deriving these effort conclusions based on his game film.
Talent is there but Thibideaux could easily become the next Dion Jordan
link to finance.yahoo.com
A lot of high level pass rushers have been accused of taking plays off in college, and a whole lot of them have turned out great. That’s a far cry from Ryan Leaf. Also, pass rushers who don’t get rotated out a ton aren’t all going to be able to give full effort every snap. That’s why you rotate them.
Im gonna trust McShay over some nobody on the internet. Dont quit your day job.
Ok. Daniel Jeremiah had him dropping… all the way to 8.
These writers have to make a living. They no nothing about football. Make it up/ bs.
Sells articles.
So if you don’t believe what you are reading and you think what the writers of these articles are saying…that they are making stuff up for ratings and to sell you on somerhing and that it’s all a bunch of BS, then why do I see you guys on here all the time posting comments. I mean, if I come across a person or a situation I don’t like or believe, I stay the he’ll away from it. I wouldn’t waste my time reading and commenting on writers I don’t think are honest and reputable.
What?
Comments are better than the articles
Goodell is scared about pronouncing his name wrong on draft night. We, as fans, have a duty to swing the momentum back the other way and get this guy number 1.
He can play on my team anytime.
Thibodeaux will fall, while some jackass team will draft Pickett or Willis in the top 10. Typical NFL Draft futility.
Only saw him play 3/4 times, but he does disappear on occasion. Seems to lose interest
some guys are a risk, but you have to take it. maybe Kayvon’s only there 90% of the time, but if he’s a top talent in 90% of the plays than it wolnt matter. the Clowney comp is good in that he gets more trash for not being all there one play than he gets credit for the many good plays he makes.
Man that was a pretty retarded take ooof
After what he did at the combine, I stand by what I said earlier. I would be shocked if he got by the 2nd Giants 1st.