2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Javon Solomon

Despite his production, he was under recruited most likely due to his size. As a 2-star recruit and the 1,396th player nationally, Troy offered him a scholarship and he eventually committed.

Solomon was a productive player early in his college career but really broke out in 2021 as a redshirt freshman (COVID eligibility). Playing outside linebacker, he notched 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss on his way to earning All-Sun Belt First Team honors. Solomon led the Sun Belt in tackles for loss (1.42 per game) and ranked 12th nationally while ranking eighth in sacks per game with 0.92. In 2022, his sack production dropped to just five, but he increased his total pressures and PFF pass rush grade.

This past season, he switched from outside linebacker to defensive end and had his most productive season. He totaled 48 pressures and 36 run stops and led all of FBS in sacks with 17, setting the Sun Belt conference record. His 90.8 PFF pass-rush grade ranked 8th among all edge defenders.  

After the season he accepted his invite to the Reese's Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.

Strengths

• Explosive first step
• Speed to threaten edge
• Bend to flatten path to quarterback
• Short frame but with disproportional length (nearly 34-inch arms)
• Converts speed to power
• Multiple secondary pass rush moves
• Unexpected pop in hands for his size

Weaknesses

• Undersized. Short and less than 250 pounds without room for growth
• Can be swallowed by bigger OTs
• Short strider
• Can he be more than a situational pass rusher?

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Javon Solomon

Unless the Bears draft an edge at 9 (or with a small trade back), the odds of them getting a full-time starter at the position are incredibly low. But they can "Moneyball" the position by pairing current #2 Demarcus Walker with a speedy compliment later in the draft. Walker can play base end on early downs and kick inside to three-technique on passing downs. That's where Solomon can come in and use his explosive first step and speed to threaten the edge, giving the Bears a different element that their pass rush is currently missing. 

While he is short at just under 6-foot-1, Solomon makes up for it with great length. His arms measured 33 7/8 inches. That's the same length as Penn State's Adisa Isaac, who is 4 inches taller and longer than guys like Jared Verse, Laiatu Latu, and Chop Robinson. This allows him to consistently keep bigger offensive tackles from getting their hands on him.

But where he really wins is with an explosive first step. He gets out of his stance so quickly and uses his long arms and flexible lower body to beat offensive tackles to the edge. Once there, he has enough lower body flexibility and ankle flexion to flatten his path to the QB. 

He will most likely be limited to a third-down-only role in the NFL, but a situational pass rusher is really what the Bears need right now. And when you're talking about a likely day-three pick, that's all you can reasonably expect. 

NFL Comparison: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo