Moving from the Bayou to the Twin Cities is becoming a common theme from this year’s NFL Draft.
After selecting Jay Ward in the fourth round, the Minnesota Vikings quickly followed it up by selecting LSU Tigers defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy with the 141st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
After trading down twice in the draft, the Vikings got aggressive, moving up 17 spots to select Roy. In the trade, the Vikings gave up the 211th overall selection.
According to Pro Football Network’s Consensus Big Board, Roy was the 116th overall prospect and 6th best 3-technique.
Size
Jaquelin Roy is a big human being, and he plays like it.
At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Roy can deliver powerful punches to offensive linemen and take them out of the play entirely.
While Roy isn’t going to take multiple gaps and anchor like a prototypical run stuffer, he is plenty big to play along the defensive line in Brian Flores’ defense.
Look for Roy to be employed as a 3-4 defensive end, allowing him to use his size and explosiveness to disrupt plays before they happen.
Pass rush ability
Jaquelin Roy has the potential to be a productive pass rusher as an interior defensive lineman, provided he continues to turn his flashes into successful snaps.
Roy’s sack numbers dropped each season, but he did have two sacks in just nine games as a true freshman. Roy finished his college career with four sacks but had just half of one in his final year.
Roy will likely never create his pass rush lanes, but he’s had plenty of opportunities in college, which should translate to the NFL.
Big Time Sack @d1roy1000. Aggies forced to punt.
1:12 | 2Q pic.twitter.com/E2v0DAgz8a
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 28, 2021
He’ll need time to develop his plan and form more consistency, but there’s no reason Roy can’t deliver a few sacks every season.
Effort
Jaquelin Roy’s motor is constantly going. Like a well-oiled machine, Roy is always moving around to try and find ways to impact the game.
Although Roy is still a little raw in his skills, this should help him find a way onto the field because coaches love players who look for work.
LSU's Jaquelin Roy (#99) is a defender I'm excited to see in a larger role in 2022. Roy notched 50 pressures since 2020 which ranks first amongst DTs.
He shows plenty of finesse at the line of scrimmage and perfectly sets up this swim move for pressure. pic.twitter.com/ibMP3Q3Eds
— Nick Price (checkmark) (@PriceCheck3) June 25, 2022
There weren’t many plays that Roy took off in college, which allowed him to always be a part of the action. This motor is indicative of his large tackle numbers in college.
The ceiling
Jaquelin Roy is a frustrating evaluation because it seems like nothing is fully developed in this game.
At times, he showcases the pass-rushing ability that will excite scouts, but other times, he’s out of position when getting into the backfield. He’s powerful but doesn’t always know how to utilize that power.
Roy will take time in the NFL, but it’s hard not to like the skills he shows. Roy has plenty of traits that scream “consistent starter,” but it’ll need to be coached out of him.
The good news is that Roy has the things that can help him become a good player. He has a quick first step, he’s always looking to make a play, and he’s physically developed. Give it time, and Roy can be a unique talent in the NFL.
The fit
The Vikings’ defensive line is a work in progress, and Roy is another building block to add to it.
Roy has drawn comparisons to former Vikings defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, and he should be among the players who help to replace his production.
Expect Roy to be heavily involved on third downs, where his effort and pass-rushing potential could help disrupt the backfield, which hopefully turns into sacks.
Roy will be limited early on, but placing him in the right spots should help this defensive line reach new levels.
