Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux projected as top-five pick in mock drafts
It is officially mock draft season.
Many analysts are beginning to release their first official mock draft for the 2022 NFL Draft, which will be held April 28-30 in Las Vegas.
No matter the mock draft, one thing is consistent — Kayvon Thibodeaux is projected as a top-five pick.
Thibodeaux is being projected as high as the No. 1 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Other analysts have the defensive end going to the Detroit Lions at No. 2 overall.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah released his mock draft Friday morning and he has Thibodeaux being selected by the New York Jets, who have the fourth pick in the draft.
"I'd be very tempted to take Ikem Ekwonu here (I have the N.C. State tackle as my top offensive lineman), but the Jets defense was notoriously awful last year," Jeremiah said. "They will get Carl Lawson back (Achilles), but they still need more pass rush. I could see Thibodeaux sliding, but his blend of length and burst is impressive."
Thibodeaux going to the Jets wouldn't be a huge surprise as their coach, Robert Saleh, is a defensive specialist. Also, the Jets finished last in total defense (397.6) and 26th in sacks (33).
Any team that drafts Thibodeaux will get a player who can provide edge-rushing help as a rookie. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Thibodeaux has the ideal size for a defensive end. He also has remarkable speed and attributes for a player his size.
In a season where he was bothered by an ankle injury, Thibodeaux still posted 49 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in 10 games.
Mel Kiper, ESPN's draft analyst, has Thibodeaux going to the Lions with the No. 2 pick.
"The Lions finished with the same number of wins (three) as the Jaguars, but doesn't it feel as if they're in a much better position?" Kiper Jr. said about Thibodeaux. "Well, maybe not so fast. The defense allowed the second-most points in the league (27.5 per game), and the offense had major consistency issues, which led to coordinator Anthony Lynn's firing. This is a roster that could use talent upgrades at several positions.
"That's why it's a no-brainer to take Thibodeaux or (Aidan) Hutchinson here, whoever is still on the board. Thibodeaux, who was a No. 1 overall high school recruit, has elite upside. His get-off at the snap is lightning-quick, and though he's still developing secondary pass-rush moves, he doesn't need them when he can blow by offensive tackles before they're out of their stance. Charles Harris, who led Detroit with 7.5 sacks this season, is a free agent, which makes this even more of a problem position."
Contact Register-Guard sportswriter Antwan Staley at astaley@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @antwanstaley.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux projected as top five pick in mock drafts
