Oregon DE @kayvont, regarded by many as a potential top-five pick, is declaring for the NFL draft, per sources. Thibodeaux also has decided to skip playing in the bowl game and start preparing for the NFL draft after his HC Mario Cristobal left Oregon for Miami.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 7, 2021
In the least surprising news of the day, the consensus top overall prospect in the 2022 NFL draft class is leaving school early for the next level.
Oregon edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux will indeed forego his remaining eligibility and enter next year’s draft, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Thibodeaux will also be skipping the Ducks’ bowl game to prepare for the draft, per Schefter.
Widely regarded as the top candidate for the No. 1 overall pick long before he was even eligible, Thibodeaux’s rare combination of size and athleticism made him a dominant force at the college level, and should allow him to do the same in the pros.
While it’s possible that Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson could leapfrog him into the No. 1 spot, Thibodeaux won’t be on the board for long if he’s not selected with the first pick.
