Kayvon Thibodeaux in the Lions’ No. 2 choice?
Oregon edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeauxonce considered one of the top five picks for sure in this month’s draft, arguably at risk fell out of the top 10. That’s largely due to concerns not about his physical abilities, but about his effort and ability to fit in. As Justin Rogers of Detroit News writes, Thibodeaux said at this year’s scouting match, “I told a coach there’s nothing he can tell me that I don’t know, right? It’s because I’m honest with myself and I watch the tapes. So if you’re a student of the game, you know what you can improve on.”
However, the Lions can save Thibodeaux from false rumors about his draft board. According to Rogers, Thibodeaux still has “a lot of things in the conversation” for Detroit’s No. 2 overall pick.
The Lions have a clear need for a passer, which is why they have been connected with Thibodeaux and the Michigan linebacker Aidan Hutchinson
during the pre-overdraft process. Thibodeaux’s college output – which includes three bags in seven games in 2020 and seven bags in 10 games in 2021 – is not enough to offset questions about his unseen things, but it should be noted. that, last season, he posted those seven sacks and a total of 12 tackles while playing because of an ankle injury.
His size (6 feet-5, 250 pounds) and impressive combined performance are further proof of his high ceilings, and the Lions have been scrutinizing him. The club met him at the union, there was GM Brad Holmes and others attend his pro festival, and will bring him in for this week’s top 30 hits. Head Coach Dan Campbell on Thibodeaux, “Hey, listen, he’s an explosive athlete. He is a player. He made a good and quick first move. I mean, he’s something else. He’s pretty special on the ice. ”
Lion is willing to trade from pick number 2but if they keep it, Campbell is looking for a player who can contribute from Day 1 (in other words, probably not a promising QB from the class of 2022 whose shortcomings have been one of the topics of discussion. the most this year).
“That’s really what you’re trying to get, a guy you feel like can come in and he’ll be able to make a solid product for you,” Campbell recently said, through Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I mean, it’s a kind of idea. We need to feel like, okay, this guy comes in, it might just take a little while, but you want to believe the moment you play your first game that this player starts for you and will be able to produce.”
Although Campbell doesn’t rule out picking a midfielder with a No. 2 pick if the team loves a passer, he also thinks having an elite QB isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for success. Castle. When he combined his desire to get an immediate contributor to his top choice, Campbell’s sentiments left open the possibility of choosing Thibodeaux, but there were plenty of non-monetary leads. Other defenders can make an immediate impact.