The opinion is near unanimous around the Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux is on his way to a career year.
The possible explanations are plentiful.
Could it be the impact of his unique offseason wrestling training? Could it be the arrival of rookie Abdul Carter to lengthen the edge rusher rotation and keep Thibodeaux’s legs fresher later into games? Could it be the extra motivation to reach another level with his next contract negotiation waiting in the wings?
“There’s no magic sauce, there’s no secret,” Thibodeaux told The Post. “Things are working out. I’m playing fast. I’m playing well, things look good. I’ve always been the same guy. I’ve been working this hard. Anybody saying what they are saying — I’m happy they feel that way — but it’s just opinions of the work.”
Thibodeaux set a high bar with an 11.5-sack season (and Pro Bowl snub) in 2023.
At other times over his career, the former first-round pick has felt his contributions to the defense go underappreciated in the outside world if the sack numbers tail off. He has responsibilities that go beyond see ball, get ball.
“I think I still have better ball to play,” Thibodeaux said. “I just keep trying to get better and be the best in the league.”
Well, Thibodeaux is tied for fifth in the NFL with eight quarterback hits (2.5 sacks) in four games, but he also is graded as the No. 14 of 114 edges in rushing defense by Pro Football Focus. He has taken more third-down snaps in different alignments than in the past.
“He’s definitely playing the best he’s played since I’ve been here,” second-year teammate Brian Burns recently said. “He is playing great with his hands. Physical, looks a lot stronger. His motor doesn’t stop. We are a little bit fresher [this year], but his intentionality going through plays has been unmatched.”
NFL Network film guru Brian Baldinger said Thibodeaux is “playing (his) best ball in four years” and pointed to the complex stunts that the Giants ran between Burns, Carter and Thibodeaux to free up each other in the win against the Chargers.
The Saints pose a threat Sunday with an offensive line built on four first-round draft picks.
“Kayvon has been a pro since he’s been here,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. I think [outside linebackers coach] Charlie Bullen has done a really good job with him, but give credit to the player of how he approaches things, the way he practices, how he studies tape, his effort on game day, his unselfishness to play different spots for us. He’s really had a good start to the season for us.”
Thibodeaux has played 77.5 percent of the defensive snaps, which is less than he was logging when he rarely came off the field under coordinator Wink Martindale in 2023. It’s consistent with his numbers early last season — before a wrist injury — in coordinator Shane Bowen’s scheme.
“I think he is going through his maturation process,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said. “Year 4 is when you see guys start to ascend. From an iron sharpens iron perspective, he and I are very similar: We talk about a greatness mindset all the time. He is always a guy who has extra work and improvement on his mind. It’s time on task that is paying off for him.”
Thibodeaux, who is under contract on the fifth-year option for $14.75 million 2026, said that business isn’t a factor in his spiked production.
“The film is the film,” Thibodeaux said. “Even my rookie year when I had four sacks, or last year when I had 5 ¹/₂, I feel like I’ve been getting better each year. Everybody is now noticing, but I don’t let it affect me. It’s only been four games. I have to keep playing my game and can’t get too far ahead of myself.”
There was a thought that the Giants might be willing to trade Thibodeaux before the Nov. 4 deadline if they were not in the playoff hunt. But he has proven too valuable to consider breaking up the edge trio.
“He was very intentional this offseason about tackling and his leverage and form,” Okereke said. “The great thing about Kayvon is that he’s an elite pass rusher, but he’s also a really good run defender who takes pride in doing whatever he can for this defense… I’m extremely excited for the growth. He has a lot more ahead of him to reach his full potential.”
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