Kayvon Thibodeaux may be next Giants star in line for a payday

Billy Joel sings that he’d “rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.’’

Kayvon Thibodeaux’s mother put it another way.

When he was a youngster, Thibodeaux heard these words of advice from Shawnta Loice: “You hang out with three clowns, you’ll be the fourth. You hang out with three rich guys, you’ll be the fourth.’’

And there you have it.

Thibodeaux is hanging out with two very rich guys along the Giants’ defensive front and he is certainly aiming to be the third member of the line reaching into that financial stratosphere .

There is Dexter Lawrence, the massive nose tackle, with a four-year extension worth $90 million, signed through the 2027 season.

There is Brian Burns, the pass-rushing outside linebacker acquired in a trade with the Panthers, coming aboard with a five-year deal for $141 million, under contract through the 2028 season.

Giants only concerned about meeting own high expectations

At this time next year, Thibodeaux could be walking among them, financially.

He is entering the third year of a four-year rookie contract worth $31.3 million, the slot befitting the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft.

Two recent first-round picks of the Giants, Lawrence (2019) and left tackle Andrew Thomas (2020) received market-setting deals (Thomas cashed in at $117 million on a five-year extension) after their third seasons.

General manager Joe Schoen arrived in 2022 and inherited Lawrence and Thomas.

It took only one season to convince Schoen that it was prudent to secure these foundation players a year early, rather than wait until their deals expired.

Will Thibodeaux be next in line to get paid after his third season?

“I’m just going to keep working, man,’’ Thibodeaux said Tuesday after a sweaty training camp practice. “The lights and everything are ahead. Right now, I just got to keep my head down, keep tunnel vision, and understand that there’s no greater way I can affect my future other than the work I put in on the field. So, just continuing to control what I can control and keep sharpening my tools.’’

Giants were left wanting for corners after Malik Nabers draft pick

Indeed, everything is ahead and possible for Thibodeaux, who at 23 is one of the younger players on the roster, already with 31 regular-season NFL games on his résumé. He had four sacks as a rookie and 11.5 last season. In two years, he has five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 29 quarterback hits.

In some ways, he is not exactly the player he was envisioned to be coming out of Oregon.

He is not yet a dominant one-on-one pass rusher, more often getting his sacks with determination as he cleans up inside the pocket. His durability is impressive.

In their draft preparation, the Giants had questions about Thibodeaux’s attitude and whether he was more team-first or me-first.

Their research suggested he was fine and nothing has transpired to indicate otherwise.

In fact, Thibodeaux admits he has learned that he at times must sacrifice on the field so that others get the glory.

“There are some things that I got to commit to that as a young player you don’t understand that,’’ he said. “You think you can be Superman and do everything, but no, I’m playing for my teammate. I got to commit to whatever we talked about, whatever game plan we have in place. And that’s what when you have a vet like Burns, it does come natural.’’

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Having a vet like Burns — who is only 26 and has 46 career sacks in five seasons — should do wonders for Thibodeaux. Lawrence is a 340-pound load in the middle and his athleticism for one so large is uncanny.

He is usually able to push the pocket from inside.

Burns on one side and Thibodeaux on the other side should force offensive linemen to pick their poison and leave one of these three players in a one-on-one matchup.

On Monday, before the last team period Thibodeaux issued a challenge to Burns: Whoever gets the first sack, the other guy has to drop down to the grass and do 25 push-ups.

“He got it,’’ Burns said. “I’ll give it to him for now. We’re still having that friendly competition. It’s going to help us get better.’’

With new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen stressing pressure with a four-man rush, Thibodeaux is expected to be required to go forward far more often than he is asked to drop in coverage.

Thibodeaux sees the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Burns as “a fast, twitchy guy’’ and views himself at 6-5 and 258 as “more of a long, powerful guy.’’ Burns got his money. Thibodeaux is up next and he is planning for an extended stay with the Giants.

“As long as coach [Brian] Daboll and Joe Schoen are here,’’ Thibodeaux said, “I’ll be here.’’

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