Kayvon Thibodeaux prefers to look forward, not backward.

Still, in his process of self-scouting, the Giants’ 22-year-old second-year outside linebacker will occasionally look at tape of himself from his rookie season.

And he doesn’t like what he sees.

“Last year’s film kind of disgusts me a little bit when I look at myself,’’ Thibodeaux said after Sunday’s training camp practice. “I get a little cringe feeling.’’

For the record, Thibodeaux hardly embarrassed himself last season. He was named to the 2022 All-Rookie Team by the Pro Football Writers of America and finished with four sacks, six tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, 49 total tackles (33 solo), five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one touchdown in 14 games.

He just knows in his heart that — for the No. 5-overall pick in the draft who wears No. 5 on his jersey — all of those numbers should be higher.

They need to be in ’23.

“Every time you look back at a play, you feel like you could have ate a little bit more,’’ he said.

Thibodeaux called his rookie year “a platform to continue to grow,’’ adding, “Anytime you look at your younger self, you always see how you’ve evolved and matured. So, now it’s me understanding who I was and who I am now and who I’m consistently growing to be.

“I didn’t reach the goals that I wanted to reach last year, but we did well as a team,’’ he went on. “In the offseason, I put that work in and now we’re here continuing sharpening iron. I’m excited for what’s to come as far as the growth of my game.’’

Thibodeaux’s potential is frightening — particularly when you consider he played only a few games opposite fellow pass-rushing linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who battled injuries for much of the year and missed 10 games, and because Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams occupy so much of opposing offensive lines’ attention in the middle.

All the pieces are there, beginning with Thibodeaux’s otherworldly talent.

“Last year I had so many goals and I had so many numbers and statistics on what I wanted to be,’’ Thibodeaux said. “I just want to be great. I want to help my team win. I want to be a guy who can make plays and make the plays when they count. I’m not really too fixated on numbers; I’m just fixated on really having an impact every game and being available every game.”

Thibodeaux said his second training camp as a pro “definitely feels a little bit different’’ than his rookie year. “Now I’m working on different things, just really understanding the game and kind of getting those gears going,’’ he said.

One of the gears that’ll get Thibodeaux going at a higher level is Ojulari, who played in only seven games because of a barrage of injuries yet still produced 5.5 sacks.

“He’s definitely one of the most talented pass rushers I’ve ever played with,’’ Thibodeaux said. “I’m excited to really get it going.’’

So, too, is Ojulari, tantalized at the thought of playing a full season opposite Thibodeaux.

“Man, I can’t wait to have both of us on the field at the same time for 17 games,’’ Ojulari said Sunday. “As long as we do our jobs and do what we’re coached to do, the numbers are going to speak for themselves. They’re going to go up for sure.’’

Ojulari, in his third season (he had eight sacks his rookie year in 2021), raved about Thibodeaux.

“He has all the tools,’’ Ojulari said. “Explosive, great hands, great get-off, closer, he gets to the ball. Sky’s the limit for him. I love playing with him.’’

Thibodeaux spoke confidently like a player who knows he’s going to be better in Year 2. He talked about working out every day in the offseason, often three workouts a day, and doing film study.

“There really is no offseason when you do it as a professional,’’ he said. “Nothing can prepare you for what’s to come on Sunday. I played a lot of snaps last year, and I feel like if I was more prepared for the number of snaps I was going to play, I could have had more production.’’

Enough looking back, though.

“It’s so funny when you talk about what you’ve done,’’ Thibodeaux said. “You ever hear [Milwaukee Bucks’ star] Giannis Antetokounmpo’s speech? I think it was in the playoffs. He talked about the past and what you did and the future and what you’re going to do, and humility is in the moment.’’

The Giants are hoping for more big moments from him in ’23.