Javon Foster 2024 NFL Draft Overview
Name: Javon Foster
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 313 pounds
School: Missouri
2024 NFL Draft: Javon Foster Scouting Report
The NFL desperately needs offensive tackles as the league was plagued by bad Offensive Line play. To many teams in the league, the Offensive Line group in the 2024 NFL Draft is a gem from the heavens. Not only is the top of the draft filled with elite young talents. There are some late-round gems to keep your eye on that might start for your favorite football team one day. One of those gems is Javon Foster.
Foster was a three-star recruit out of West Bloomfield, Michigan, committed to Missouri. Despite redshirting his freshman year, Foster was an academic All-SEC. In the next two seasons, he would rarely play and develop his skill. Foster started every game in his junior and senior seasons, gaining an honorable All-SEC mention. During his graduate season, Foster improved immensely and was voted AP Third-Team All-American and first-team All-SEC. However, there are still concerns in the NFL media outlets about his past play and lack of power. Will this impact Foster’s draft grade? Let’s dig into the film.
Javon Foster Strengths
Thick frame with Good arm length and hand size.
He has good arm length, and for a player his age, I’m surprised he knows how to use his long arms to establish first contact and keep rushers away from his body.
Has above-average size hands with good grip strength. Once he gets his hands on edge defenders, the two are over.
He has good athletic ability and explodes from his stance to stick his mark. Can mirror pass rushers passing the Quarterback and redirect his feet to stop counter moves. He does not get comfortable and m pass protection; he looks for work to punish defenders.
Is a good zone blocker and blocker in space. Can cut off the backside on zone runs, reach the interior defensive linemen, and lead on the edge as a puller. The screen game flashes the athletic ability to locate smaller defenders and plant them in the ground.
Can play both Tackle Spots. Utilizes different sets and techniques to disrupt defenders.
Can occasionally knock back defenders on gap scheme blocks. Base and down blocks can initiate a good blow and push around defenders.
Improvement in his technique from 2022 to 2023.
Javon Foster Weakness
He stops his feet and gets sloppy with his footwork when bracing for contact. Because of his bad feet, he does not show much power as a run-blocker. He is a much better fit in a zone scheme.
Hand placement and timing are all over the place, leaving him sometimes defenseless against good pass-rush moves. Over relies on a two-handed punch, which does not have much power behind it.
Average power and a lack of force upon contact might turn off gap scheme teams. The team has a hard time handling stunts and blitzes. The team has bad awareness and slow processing of what’s happening post-snap.
The horrible habit of lunging into contact and not initiating contact with a square base. Plays with a high pad level, especially in the run game. It is a negative in the run game.
NFL Draft Projection: Late Fourth, Early fifth
Best NFL Team Fit: San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders
NFL Pro Comparison: Cordell Volson
The Bottom Line is…..
Javon Foster has versatility on both sides as a tackle and guard, with good arm length and size. He’s a smooth athlete in space and perfectly fits zone scheme teams. His lack of power and footwork will cause a slide, but he has the potential to start in the NFL.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
