New York Giants Draft Prospect: Edge Javon Solomon

Nick takes a look at edge rusher Javon Solomon's game.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Jan 16, 2024 8:00 AM EST

In this story:

Troy Trojans

New York Giants

Javon Solomon, EDGE

Height: 6’2
Weight: 245 lbs.
Class: Senior (5th-Year)
School: Troy
College Statistics

A former three-star recruit out of Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was the 267th Floridian recruit and the 137th OLB in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Solomon was a very accomplished EDGE rusher in the smaller Sun Belt conference. He was Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt or better since the 2020 season

He had 46 pressures on 336 pass-rushing reps in 2023. In 2021, Solomon was an All-American Honorable Mention by Pro Football Network; he averaged 1.42 tackles per loss per game and averaged just under a sack a game.

Solomon became one of just 31 players nationally since 2000 to record 17 tackles for loss and 11 sacks through the first ten games of a season; one of just nine from a Group of Five school to do so and the only Sun Belt player.

He joined the ranks as the third player since at least 2000 to record 12 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and one interception in the season's first six games. The other two were Carl Nassib (Penn State, 2015), and Elvis Dumervil (Louisville, 2005) Solomon will attend the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Strengths

Good physique that’s chiseled with a defined lower body
Excellent athlete with impressive burst and quickness
Exceptional first step maximizes ability to win high-side
A high-side rusher with elite lower-body flexion
Unique flexibility and bend

Knees almost scrape the ground

Balanced player with a low center of gravity
Great foot control, change of direction, and agility
Evasive chest with reduced surface area due to stature

Does not have a large target for tackles to strike

Does a great job bending through contact at the top of the pass-rushing arc
Good hand usage to land the rip and bend
Flashed a long-arm to set up secondary moves

Does string pass rush moves together

Hump move vs. Arkansas State showed exceptional leveral, control, and solid strength
Turns a tight corner to get his hips oriented into the pocket
Leveraged different moves at the top of pass rushing arc to win
Flashed inside counter moves to expose over-aggressive tackles
Can convert speed-to-power (at lower level of competition)
Unlocks good power through the ground with his lean into contact
Maintains a low profile with his power rush to generate force on contact
Quickness is evident on games/twists
Was in a penetrating system that gave him the freedom to attack upfield as a run defender
Slippery to block, does well to reduce his target area and combines that with his short-area-quickness to evade
Has rushed from a variety of alignments and stances (FROG, two/three point)
Huge hits on tape
Motor is great

View more draft prospect scouting profiles.

Weaknesses

Undersized, which could affect his power at the next level
Wish he was taller/longer
Lack of height could hinder anchor ability vs. run
Power moves may struggle to succeed against NFL tackles
Questions about speed to power translating to NFL are fair
Level of competition was weaker - can he prove his consistency at the Senior Bowl?
Coverage will have to be tested at Senior Bowl - rarely did it in college
Could be liable for roughing the passer penalties with his hits

Summary

Javon Solomon is an incredibly quick pass rusher with effective bend, burst, and hand usage to separate from offensive tackles. He is a high-side rusher who is best utilized from a wide stance. His ability to bend through contact with a relentless motor will give him a shot as a situational pass rusher. Solomon’s size and anchor ability are question marks.

He’s not a terrible run defender for what he was asked to do, but he was in an aggressive attacking system at Troy that did not have him anchor in place too often; when he did, double teams uprooted him at the lower level of competition. In the right system, with the correct usage, Solomon can be a very good asset on defense, especially if he’s a situational pass rusher who gets to pin his ears back and hunt the quarterback.

Solomon isn’t being discussed much before the Senior Bowl, but a good showing at the event can be the catalyst to raise his stock. Teams covet natural pass-rushing skills with the necessary burst to threaten the tackle’s high side and the pass-rushing savvy/timing to adjust when appropriate.

The NFL speed will be an adjustment for Solomon - and his smaller stature could pose a problem - but he’s an undersized rusher I am willing to take a shot on.

GRADE: 6.24