2022 NFL Mock Draft: Malik Willis in the top 5, Cowboys get elite EDGE
By Randy Gurzi
player. 30. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Oregon. 6. EDGE. Kayvon Thibodeaux
6. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
The New York Jets ended up suffering a couple of big losses this preseason when both Carl Lawson and Vinny Curry went down for the year with injuries. Lawson was their prized free-agent addition whereas Curry was a veteran stop-gap. Nonetheless, both losses hurt.
Having said that, even when Lawson returns to the field, he’s going to need someone starting across from him. That’s where Kayvon Thibodeaux from Oregon comes in. Hands down, Thibodeaux enters the 2021 season as the No. 1 prospect in the nation at the defensive end position. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2019 with 35 tackles and nine sacks.
As a sophomore, he saw his sack number dip to just three but he did play only seven games due to the Pac-12 shortening its season. He also had 42 tackles in the shorter time which was pretty impressive in itself.
Should he land with the Jets, it would be a great fit for the player and the team. His 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame gives them a more traditional defensive end to play across from Lawson. He would also be able to work with Robert Saleh who is one of the more well-respected defensive coaches in the game right now. That would help him maximize his talent while also giving New York something they haven’t had in years, a fearsome pass-rushing tandem on the edge.