He put tackles on the ground’ – Giants legend makes bold statement about defender who’s taken massive step ahead of make or break season
New York Giants legend Carl Banks praised former first round defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux for how much he’s stepped up during practice against the Jets.
The New York Giants’ defensive line has dominated headlines throughout training camp.
From Brian Burns sharing lofty expectations for the unit to rookie Abdul Carter blowing past blockers on every rep, the defensive line appears to be living up to the hype.
However, one player being considered an afterthought heading into the 2025 season may be a breakout star for the team. According to Giants great Carl Banks, former first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux deserves more praise for the clinic he put on in joint practices with the New York Jets.
Is this finally Thibodeaux’s year?
Since he was drafted in 2022, it feels like every offseason has been described as the year that Thibodeaux will finally reach his potential. Expectations have been high, considering he was the fifth overall pick.
His best season came in year two, when he emerged with 11.5 sacks and 12 TFLs. However, concerns were raised after a steep drop off last season, in which he only registered 5.5 sacks in 12 games.
The selection of Carter in the 2025 NFL Draft created a media-fueled hot seat, and Thibodeaux was deemed a trade candidate by many. Thibodeaux appears to have increased urgency as we’ve passed the halfway point of training camp.
On a recent episode of Bleav in Giants, Bob Papa and Banks recapped the top performers from joint practices, and Thibodeaux led that list.
“Kayvon Thibodeaux is setting the EDGE with grown man strength. I mean, he put tackles on the ground. Big ol’ 300lbers trying to block him, and he put them on the ground.”
The most compelling part of the preseason thus far has to be the slow-building realization that there is no weak link to the defensive line. The roster may have issues at other positions, but there’s a real chance the Giants have a top 3 defensive line in the NFL in 2025.
If Thibodeaux, Carter, Burns, and Dexter Lawrence live up to their first-round billing, the unit’s production could set franchise records.
Banks also mentioned the precise attention to detail he noticed during practices in resolving issues that held them back in 2024.
“The areas that we all believe that this defense has to improve on in order to be their best self in terms of being able to rush the passer, it seems that they are cognisant of that. And they are very gap-conscious, fundamentally sound.”
Banks has been a very optimistic advocate for the Giants in recent years. If his projections come to fruition, the sky is the limit for what this squad can accomplish this season.
