Javontae Jean-Baptiste has traits that make him a developmental candidate for the Commanders
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By: dg28
Hogs Haven takes a look at 2024 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Commanders
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, DE
School: Notre Dame | Conference: Independents
College Experience: Senior | Age: 23
Height / Weight: 6’5” / 239 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Rounds 6th-UDFA
Player Comparison: Jeremiah Attaochu
College Statistics
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2019 | Ohio State | Big Ten | FR | DE | 7 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2020 | Ohio State | Big Ten | SO | DE | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| *2021 | Ohio State | Big Ten | JR | DE | 9 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2022 | Ohio State | Big Ten | SR | 13 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| *2023 | Notre Dame | Ind | SR | DL | 13 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 10.5 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Career | Overall | 46 | 54 | 100 | 20.5 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
| Ohio State | 25 | 26 | 51 | 10.0 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| Notre Dame | 21 | 28 | 49 | 10.5 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
Generated 4/17/2024.
Player Overview
In his native New Jersey, Javontae Jean-Baptiste was a star. He helped lead his high school team to a state title, and he was named First-team all-New Jersey and NJ.com’s Defensive Player of the Year. This lead to Jean-Baptiste being a four-start prospect that chose to attend Ohio State. From 2018-2022, Jean-Baptiste played 45 games for the Buckeyes but never lived up to the play of the Bosa brothers or Chase Young. After 2022, Jean-Baptiste transferred to Notre Dame for his last year of eligibility. The decision paid off as Jean-Baptiste as he put up his best statistical season, putting himself in the best position possible to be drafted.
Strengths
- Possesses excellent length for the position
- Frees himself from blocks to make plays against the run
- Effective at timing his stunts to create lanes to QB
- Does a good job of retracing rushes to make plays
- Has good closing speed
Weaknesses
- Slow out of his stance
- Slim frame and high pad level make him easy to knock around
- Has to get stronger in his pass rushes
- Hand usage and deployment of pass rush moves need work
- Has to be more disciplined and stronger when containing the run
Let’s See His Work
The Notre Dame defense did all it could to keep the Irish offense in the game in the second half at Clemson.
This tenacious sack at the end of the third quarter was especially impressive. Javontae Jean-Baptiste created chaos. Howard Cross III got there despite being held. Stout. pic.twitter.com/TkcqyFwYyt
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) November 10, 2023
“The Commanders will host Notre Dame ED Javontae Jean-Baptiste on a Top 30 visit, a source said.”
-@_RyanFowler_ (Tier 2 )#HTTC | #Commanders | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/7VN7KxLyhj— We Want Dallas (@WeWantDallas) March 27, 2024
Javontae Jean-Baptiste is a DE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.18 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 139 out of 1685 DE from 1987 to 2024.
Pro day pending.https://t.co/W6Wmuy3tpR pic.twitter.com/O2u1YfKIQS
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 19, 2024
How He Fits on the Commanders
Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have quickly remade the defensive end position since the previous regime traded away Montez Sweat and Chase Young. They re-signed Efe Obada and brought in Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, and Dante Fowler, Jr. Of those four, only Armstrong is signed beyond this season. It looks like the Commanders could add a defensive end in the draft that figures into the team’s future beyond next season.
With so many needs to fill, the Commanders could look to the backend of the draft for a player like Javontae Jean-Baptiste. You can’t teach the length and speed that he has, but the areas where he needs to improve – strength and technique – can come with time. In his first year, he could play on special teams while he improves his weaknesses. Hopefully by next season, he would be ready to move into a rotational role at the position as the contracts for others expires.
Originally posted on Hogs Haven
