When New York Giants rookie first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux took the field alongside running back Saquon Barkley on Monday, you knew he was primed for good things.
24 hours later, Thibodeaux made his first big splash in a Giants uniform.
During an 11-on-11 drill on Tuesday, Thibodeaux was able to get his hands up, clogging a lane. The pass went off his fingertips and promptly landed in the waiting arms of safety Xavier McKinney.
Although there is no video of the interception, the Giants declared it the defensive play of the day.
Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux generated the play of the day. The fifth overall draft pick tipped a pass straight up in the air, and safety Xavier McKinney came down with the interception. McKinney, who was tied for the NFL lead among safeties with five interceptions last season, ran the ball down the right sideline. Thibodeaux was asked last week at rookie minicamp about defensive coordinator Wink Martindale turning him loose.
“It’s all about creating trust,” Thibodeaux told reporters during rookie minicamp. “Once [Martindale] trusts in me that I know the playbook, and that I’m going to be available every Sunday, that I can live up to those expectations, then I feel he’ll be able to cut whoever loose as long as they have that consistency and trust.”
The Giants have a lot riding on both Thibodeaux and McKinney, so to see them making big plays early in OTAs is an encouraging sign. New York is certainly going to need more of that this year.
