“I’m still going for the record”
Kayvon Thibodeaux has always had big goals, and the New York Giants edge defender has never been shy to tell anyone about them.
As a rookie, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft said he wanted to “average at least one sack a game or contribute five to 10 tackles a game.” That would have been 17 sacks and at least 85 tackles.
For the past couple of seasons, Thibodeaux has made in clear that he wants the single-season sack record, currently shared by T.J. Watt and former Giants great and Hall of Famer Michael Strahan at 22.5. The best Thibodeaux has done is 11.5 sacks in 2023.
On Tuesday, Thibodeaux did not shy away from his quest for the record.
When I asked him about numerical goals for the 2025 season, Thibodeaux said this:
“More than I ever had. Every time I come out on the field, I want to have more sacks than I ever had, more tackles than I ever had and whatever I got to do to help the team. So yeah. I’m still going for the record, I’m going to go for the record every year.”
Depending on your perspective, and maybe his, Thibodeaux should have an opportunity to compile some big numbers in 2025 if he can remain healthy. On paper, Thibodeaux has better defensive talent around him than he has had in any of his three previous seasons with the Giants.
Some of that help will come from Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick who joins Thibodeaux and Brian Burns to form what should be an elite trio of edge defenders.
Thibodeaux calls Carter a “beast” who Is “fast, explosive, smart.”
There have been plenty of questions about how defensive coordinator Shane Bowen would find roles, and proper playing time, for his trio of talented edge players. Bowen acknowledged the dilemma a couple of weeks ago.
“You got three guys for two spots when you look at it from the outside in,” he said. “It’s a really good problem to have. Got three really good players, three really talented players.”
We have thus far seen Carter line up on the edge, as a rusher with his hand in the ground at defensive end or tackle, and at off-ball linebacker.
Thibodeaux gave a vague answer when asked if Carter’s presence impacted his role.
“He gives us another guy up front to rush,” Thibodeaux said. “He’s been taking his roles really strongly and he’s been doing his thing in the inside, on the outside, so excited to have another guy to add to the gauntlet.
“I think when new guys come in, they always have certain talents and things that they can help us with, and we know certain things that we can help him with, so it’s been a constant growth mindset between all of us.”
Thibodeaux still believes he can be one of the league’s premier pass rushers.
“I think I’m a consistent double digits sack guy and I got to do that,” he said. “It has been three years, going on four now. It has been a lot of ups and downs in my career and as a team, but I think this is a team that can win and I can help that.
“I got to get better pass rushing. I got to get better at stopping and run, and that’s what I’m focused on. I think the more I can do for the team, the better off I’ll be.”
The Giants, despite drafting Carter, picked up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option this offseason. Thibodeaux said he did not worry about Carter’s presence clouding his future with the Giants.
“To be honest, I always knew where my future was. I’m in control of my own future and I’ve never not been in control of my own future,” he said. “I think whether it’s injury, whether it’s – whatever kind of goes on, whatever adversity you face, your future is still in your control in the day by day. So, all offseason, I’ve just been training, working on doing what I can do to continue to get better and control what I can control.
“I’ve always been hungry. I grew up poor and this is an opportunity to make more money than you’ll ever make in your life. So, there’s no added pressure, there’s no added motivation. I think the motivation is not only to get here, but to stay here and then once you’re here, you’re in a land full of lions, you got to come out on top. So, for me, I just want to be the best now. That’s kind of what my motivation is and that’s what I’m here to do.”