New York Giants Draft Prospect: Edge Javon Solomon

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

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

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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

Nick Falato

 

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