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Kayvon Thibodeaux responds to NFL Draft criticism following Oregon's pro day; "just watch the tape"

Jarrid Denneyby:Jarrid Denney•04/01/22•

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Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWOR

Kayvon Thibodeaux hears the outside noise. He’s aware of the various critiques of his game that have emerged during the pre-draft process, and he understands that everything he says and does in the coming weeks will become a headline.

None of it bothers him. In fact, Thibodeaux says, he welcomes the criticism.

“I’m gonna be honest: the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard is that I’m not the best player in the draft,” Thibodeaux said. “That, to me, is outrageous. With the film, with the numbers, and what I can do as far as my ability, I have confidence in what I can do.”

One of the main critiques of Thibodeaux over the past several months is a perceived lack of consistent effort from him that has become a talking point among draft pundits.

In his latest list of top-50 prospects, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah called Thibodeaux’s effort “spotty.”

“Just watch the tape,” Thibodeaux said with a smile when asked about his perceived lack of effort during his college career. “It’s easy to see a snipet of something. Because that’s what media does. They cut stuff up and kind of frame it how they want to. Just watch the whole tape — you’ll be able to see.”

Thibodeaux was brimming with confidence Friday after going through workouts in front of personnel from all 32 NFL teams. After a controversial NFL Combine performance in which he opted to not participate in positional drills, he finally had the chance to do so at Oregon’s Moshofsky Center and said he was pleased with his performance.

“I think I did great,” Thibodeaux said. “I got to do a lot of linebacker, a lot of d-line (drills) and I got to show my stamina, my footwork, my hands. You know, everything we put into the last eight weeks, 12 weeks.”

Thibodeaux participated in the broad jump, the shuttle run, and position drills on Friday.

He explained that he opted not to perform in the vertical jump because he did not want it to take away from the more pivotal aspects of his pro day.

“Because I feel like, with the vertical jump, when you put force up it kind of weighs on your hamstrings, your quads,” Thibodeaux said. “I didn’t wanna have that compile onto everything else I was doing. I wanted to make sure everything was crispy.”

At last month’s NFL Combine, Thibodeaux ran a 4.58 40-yard dash — the sixth-fastest at the Combine among edge rushers. He also put up 27 bench press reps, the most at the Combine among edge rushers.

Thibodeaux said the next four weeks will consist of traveling, meeting with teams, and training. He said he has a “max of five” top-30 visits lined up, and said those are with the “top-five.”

“Now, it’s all about playing,” Thibodeaux said. “This was getting ready for the Combine, but now it’s about taking my training, taking my mental, taking everything to the next level. Now I’m a pro, and I’ve gotta train like one and I’ve gotta be one.”

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