Remember when some fans and pundits were beginning to label New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux a bust? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
Much of that criticism has gone by the wayside in recent weeks as Thibodeaux comes into his own.
Entering Week 13, Thibodeaux is eighth in the NFL in sacks (11.0) and has the most sacks of any Giant through 12 games in the past 20 years. And that doesn’t even account for his improved run defense.
It’s for those reasons and more that ESPN recently named Thibodeaux to their 2023 NFL All-Youngster Team — the NFL’s top players under the age of 24.
With high-end traits and juice off the ball, Thibodeaux has elevated his game this season after being the No. 5 pick in 2022. His 11 sacks are eighth-most in the NFL, and he has also added 29 pressures. The tape tells us that he has developed a deeper set of counter moves in his second pro season, and the arrow is pointing up on his game.
In this exercise, Thibodeaux was named to the First Team with Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis named to the Second Team.
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson joined Thibodeaux on the First Team.
Not bad company.
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