Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: DT Jonah Tavai - Disruptive Interior Gem?

Though few players in the nation produced better sack and tackle for loss numbers over the past two years, Jonah Tavai didn't hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft and will hope to prove 31 other teams wrong by making a splash with the Seattle Seahawks.

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jun 18, 2023 7:27 PM EDT

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities wrapping up league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Jonah Tavai, Defensive Tackle

Height/Weight: 5-10, 283 pounds

2022 Stats*: 59 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss

*College stats at San Diego State

The latest in a long line of successful football players to come from his family with four brothers who played at the Division I level, Tavai turned an All-American selection at El Camino College into a full scholarship at San Diego State, quickly becoming a key contributor along the defensive line. After making 15 tackles in a reserve role in his first season with the Aztecs, he garnered Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honors in 2020 with 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and six tackles for loss. Continuing his ascent towards becoming one of the most disruptive players in college football, he broke out with 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2021, earning All-American honors from The Action Network.

Somehow still not a household name despite his production, Tavai took his game to another level in his final year of eligibility at San Diego State. Hitting double-digit sacks and tackles for loss, he lived in opposing backfields all season long and received All-American honors from the Associated Press, Pro Football Focus, and others, capping off a fantastic college career. Viewed as a tweener by NFL scouts with underwhelming athletic traits, he went undrafted before signing with the Seahawks.

Best-Case Scenario: Making a splash as Poona Ford did as an undrafted free agent back in 2018, Tavai holds his own in training camp and the preseason playing as an undersized nose tackle and 3-tech defensive end, using his penetrating ability and lightning quick hands to get into the backfield for a pair of sacks in exhibition play to earn a spot on Seattle's 53-man roster.

Worst-Case Scenario: Unable to take advantage of his strengths due to sub-30-inch arms and the lack of girth at under 285 pounds, Tavai loses snaps to Austin Faoliu and Jacob Sykes early in camp and isn't able to translate his immense college production to the NFL as he receives a pink slip in final cuts.

What to Expect in 2023: Between his mediocre athletic profile and unideal size/length for an interior defensive lineman, Tavai would seem like a longshot to make it in the NFL based on measurables. But while he may not look like a prototypical defensive tackle and won't win contests running 40-yard dashes or 3-cone drills, it would be a mistake to overlook him heading into Seattle's training camp on multiple fronts.

Tavai has landed in a perfect situation with the Seahawks in transition along the defensive line. Even after drafting Cameron Young, the team has limited depth at nose with Bryan Mone recovering from a torn ACL and no other experienced players at the position. Secondly, he possesses a wide array of football skills that should translate well to the pros, including an explosive first step and active hands that could make him a problem for opposing guards and centers in pass rushing situations. While the coaching staff will have to find ways to accentuate his unique strengths and mitigate obvious size concerns, he should have a fighting chance to not only make the final roster, but play a meaningful role as a reserve at some point as a rookie.

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