Jaquelin Roy NFL Draft Overview
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6′-4″
Weight: 315 pounds
School: LSU
2023 NFL Draft: Jaquelin Roy Scouting Report
After spending the past four seasons with the LSU Tigers, defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. The four-star recruit made this decision following what was likely the best season of his collegiate tenure. Seeing the field for a career-high 676 snaps, Roy finished the campaign with 49 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, and 0.5 sacks.
Roy originally joined LSU prior to the 2020 season. The defensive tackle played sparingly as a true freshman, recording 18 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and two sacks in 267 snaps. His role expanded in Year 2, as he finished with 30 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and 1.5 sacks on 497 snaps.
Strengths
- Quick reflexes and acceleration off the snap;
- Strong player with a low center of gravity to naturally gain strong leverage;
- Impressive lower-body form allows him to maintain a strong anchor;
- Can slip through gaps in the offensive line and collapse the pocket;
- Frame has room to add muscle;
- Never slows down until the whistle is blown.
Weaknesses
- Below-average lateral quickness – exclusively wins by moving north-south;
- Can get taken out of a play if a blocker latches on to him;
- Not much of an athlete – underwhelming testing numbers;
- Needs an additional pass rushing move or two;
- Late to identify holes in the run game – should have had more tackles.
NFL Comparison: Matthew Ioannidis
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Round 3
Bottom Line on Jaquelin Roy
Jaquelin Roy is the type of player that should find a home in the NFL and projects as a rotational starter. The defensive tackle is at his best the second the ball is snapped, as his reaction time is second to none. He uses this quick getup along with his impressive acceleration to immediately put opposing guards and centers in a defensive position, pushing back the pocket and getting after the quarterback. As a run defender, Roy’s strength and sound mechanics allow give him the ability to win his reps, maintain a strong anchor, and get after the ball carrier.
These skills will give him a home in the NFL, but he doesn’t have the highest ceiling. Roy is something of a one-trick pony, as he lacks the lateral agility to go around defenders – if he can’t slip through them at the snap, he has no other choice but to try and bull rush his way to the quarterback. The NFL Combine showed there isn’t any untapped potential here, as his athletic testing left a lot to be desired.
Because of this, he can get taken out of the play pretty easily if blockers get two good hands on him, and there isn’t too much he can do about it. On top of that, his lack of athleticism means that he’ll need to develop another move or two. He won’t be able to win every single time on strength and fast reactions alone, as NFL defenders are just too fast and too strong.
Ultimately, Jaquelin Roy projects as a solid-yet-unspectacular starter in the NFL Draft. His lack of athleticism will keep him from being a star, but he should be able to clog up rushing lanes and record 3-4 sacks per season.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
