Is Javon Solomon poised for a breakout season?

[transplantbillsfan]

In one of Beane’s interviews with the media since the season ended and we hired Leonhard, he brought up Javon Solomon's name unprompted in terms of players fitting into this new defense.

 

On Sal Capaccio's podcast the other day he and Matt Bove interviewed Groot and asked who he thought could have a breakout year this coming season. He said Javon Solomon.

 

Solomon was a proven producer in college, leading the FBS in sacks in his Senior year. He's in a compact frame at 6'1, 246 lbs but has pretty freakish length with nearly 34" arms and a nearly 81" wingspan with giant mitts at nearly 11". He made Bruce Feldman’s "Freak's List."

 

Here was Dane Brugler's writeup of him in the 2024 Beast as his 20th rated Edge Rusher:

 

STRENGTHS: Rare length and hand size for his frame … starts low to the ground and pounces out of his stance with an electric first step … rushes with natural body bend and low hips … shoots his punch with an upward angle (wrestling background and understanding of le verage are evident) … uses a knockback stab and strong plant foot to aid his cornering skills … doesn’t stay married to one move and puts a lot on tape for blockers to prepare for … flashes burst to close to get on runners quicker than they expect … strong hands to finish the tackles he starts … NFL scouts say his football character is “dependable” … experienced lining up inside, outside and over the offensive tackle … outstanding backfield production, with 42.5 tackles for loss and 31.5 sacks over his final 40 games in college.

 

WEAKNESSES: Unique body type that won’t appeal to schemes with specific height/weight parameters … gets caught hand fighting and needs to be more efficient with his pass-rush moves … his feet have a ton of energy, but his play speed is average by NFL standards … wide-based blocks often cut him off and shield him from the ball … can be moved by bigger, longer bodies who make first contact and drive their feet … loves to battle but is often forced to sacrifice his sightlines or body positioning to win … inexperienced dropping into space … had a tough time piercing the pocket against the two Power 5 opponents (Kansas State and Duke) on the 2023 schedule.

 

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Troy, Solomon played a head-up 4i defensive end role in former head coach Jon Sumrall’s scheme. The Troy program has produced more than a few talented pass rushers over the years (DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora), but Solomon leaves with the school records for sacks in a season (FBSbest 16 in 2023) and career (32.5), having also matchedUmenyiora’s single-game sacksrecord (four). A member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” Solomon’s play style is built on spurts of speed, power and having a nose for the football. Though his athletic instincts have yet to fail him, he needs to improve his efficiency as a pass rusher for the next level and his lack of size will show up in the run game. Overall, Solomon has a unique collection of traits in a smaller-framed body, but he is disproportionally long with the bend, burst and motor that make him a pass-rushing pest. He can play on special teams and earn a rotational role on defense, like how James Houston is deployed by the Detroit Lions.

 

 

 

Edge Rusher is probably the 2nd or 3rd most talked about position of need, but how bad would an Edge Rusher group of Groot, Chubb, Hoecht (hopefully healthy obviously) and Solomon really be?

[bearcat]

Add Jackson when he's healthy 

[wppete]

He is a perfect fit for a 3-4 OLB. His size, playing style and pass rush will shine in Leonards scheme. Should be exciting to see. 

[Don Otreply]

Certainly wouldn’t upset anyone if he had a very strong season, 🤞

[BillsShredder83]

26 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

In one of Beane’s interviews with the media since the season ended and we hired Leonhard, he brought up Javon Solomon's name unprompted in terms of players fitting into this new defense.

 

On Sal Capaccio's podcast the other day he and Matt Bove interviewed Groot and asked who he thought could have a breakout year this coming season. He said Javon Solomon.

 

Solomon was a proven producer in college, leading the FBS in sacks in his Senior year. He's in a compact frame at 6'1, 246 lbs but has pretty freakish length with nearly 34" arms and a nearly 81" wingspan with giant mitts at nearly 11". He made Bruce Feldman’s "Freak's List."

 

Here was Dane Brugler's writeup of him in the 2024 Beast as his 20th rated Edge Rusher:

 

STRENGTHS: Rare length and hand size for his frame … starts low to the ground and pounces out of his stance with an electric first step … rushes with natural body bend and low hips … shoots his punch with an upward angle (wrestling background and understanding of le verage are evident) … uses a knockback stab and strong plant foot to aid his cornering skills … doesn’t stay married to one move and puts a lot on tape for blockers to prepare for … flashes burst to close to get on runners quicker than they expect … strong hands to finish the tackles he starts … NFL scouts say his football character is “dependable” … experienced lining up inside, outside and over the offensive tackle … outstanding backfield production, with 42.5 tackles for loss and 31.5 sacks over his final 40 games in college.

 

WEAKNESSES: Unique body type that won’t appeal to schemes with specific height/weight parameters … gets caught hand fighting and needs to be more efficient with his pass-rush moves … his feet have a ton of energy, but his play speed is average by NFL standards … wide-based blocks often cut him off and shield him from the ball … can be moved by bigger, longer bodies who make first contact and drive their feet … loves to battle but is often forced to sacrifice his sightlines or body positioning to win … inexperienced dropping into space … had a tough time piercing the pocket against the two Power 5 opponents (Kansas State and Duke) on the 2023 schedule.

 

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Troy, Solomon played a head-up 4i defensive end role in former head coach Jon Sumrall’s scheme. The Troy program has produced more than a few talented pass rushers over the years (DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora), but Solomon leaves with the school records for sacks in a season (FBSbest 16 in 2023) and career (32.5), having also matchedUmenyiora’s single-game sacksrecord (four). A member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” Solomon’s play style is built on spurts of speed, power and having a nose for the football. Though his athletic instincts have yet to fail him, he needs to improve his efficiency as a pass rusher for the next level and his lack of size will show up in the run game. Overall, Solomon has a unique collection of traits in a smaller-framed body, but he is disproportionally long with the bend, burst and motor that make him a pass-rushing pest. He can play on special teams and earn a rotational role on defense, like how James Houston is deployed by the Detroit Lions.

 

 

 

Edge Rusher is probably the 2nd or 3rd most talked about position of need, but how bad would an Edge Rusher group of Groot, Chubb, Hoecht (hopefully healthy obviously) and Solomon really be?

Man I've still got high hopes for the kid.  He very clearly, was not cut out for the McD system.  He needs an aggressive, attacking, system.  Like a RB, these guys benefit from getting into the zone throughout the game and reps.  I think they're going to take a serious look at him, and give him every chance to develop.

 

We haven't developed a DT/Edge prospect since the beginning of time LOL, I have a feeling him and Sanders are basically as raw as they were coming  out of the draft.  I'll admit I dont know what the problem is, but a total inability to groom talent is so glaringly obvious to me.

 

I dont know if theres another player currently on this team that would benefit more from this scheme change than him!  I hope he's stoked and focused

[machine gun kelly]

It was pretty clear McD believed in controlling the defense through the back end and it worked in his system.  I don’t think many of us are ready or know what the changes will look like under Leonard and that’s ok.

 

Im hopeful the changes will work.  The defense contrary to what some have indicated were bad under McD.  A change may help.  It’s wait and see.  I see that we had a decent defense at times under McD, but the point is more we needed a change.

Edited April 11 by machine gun kelly

[MJS]

He has completely sucked so far. I would assume it will take more than a scheme change to change his fate, but stranger things have happened.

 

I mean, there is a reason why he was available in the 5th round...

[transplantbillsfan]

46 minutes ago, bearcat said:

Add Jackson when he's healthy 

 

I think Jackson is going to be a hands in the dirt 4i down lineman.

4 minutes ago, MJS said:

He has completely sucked so far. I would assume it will take more than a scheme change to change his fate, but stranger things have happened.

 

I mean, there is a reason why he was available in the 5th round...

 

So was Khalil Shakir 

[NoSaint]

I’m optimistic in the same way I am when I pick a lottery ticket up off the ground. 
 

could be fun but tremendously overwhelming odds that the thrill was the suspense and not the actual outcome 

[Coach Tuesday]

He has no idea what is happening around him.

[Thrivefourfive]

We’ll know we have the right DC if the rookies and young guys who didn’t show up much like Sanders, Jackson, Solomon, the DBs can perform. McDermott got junk out of rookies and younger guys save for a DB here and there. I’m incredibly cautious now when hearing “good things from camp” etc. after coaches and players made Keon Coleman believe he was good and ready to breakout. That completely backfired in every way. They practically mistreated Coleman 🤣

 

Do I think Solomon will breakout? I have no idea what to think when Beane sings these songs. 

[EmotionallyUnstable]

When you filter the 2025 tape for passes, Solomon was on the field for 104 plays - which this thread inspired me to seek and watch most of them. They all pretty much end the same. He consistently gets swallowed up by OTs. 
 

For a smaller guy, he lacks a good jump off the snap - very tentative. It seems as he his overly concerned with rush integrity and not playing full speed. When he goes get off a decent jump, his angles and bend are not meshing to get around the edge and his speed to power is just too often absorbed. 
 

Despite the compact frame, he does have a longer wingspan but still cannot seem to use it advantageously. He rarely gains extension and does not posses any counter or ability to disengage. He does not seem to use any inside counter move. Honestly the best plays I saw from him were ones that he kept contain and ended up forcing a throw away as the QB scrambled laterally. 
 

To be fair, he took a LOT of these snaps to the offensive strength and regularly had tight ends to work through - aligning at a 7 essentially rendered him useless most plays. Many of his NASCAR interior rushes ended like this - muddled up body on body. 
 

I do not anticipate anything of significance from him. The college tape and stats are great, but at the NFL level I’ve seen nothing that makes me feel hopeful moving forward. Without either significant speed, power or great technique - NFL tackles are just too well equipped to deal with his frame and limited athleticism. Pair that with no real display of developed technique, and the writing is on the wall.

 

He will most likely to contribute on specials and maybe get spot duty snaps. Hopefully he is given the green light at times, and that will unlock some sort of next level that he has yet to show. 

[wppete]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I think Jackson is going to be a hands in the dirt 4i down lineman.

 

So was Khalil Shakir 

So was Milano

[MJS]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

So was Khalil Shakir 

Yes, and Tom Brady was a 6th rounder. There have even been good players who were undrafted. The exceptions to the rules do not prove anything. It is notable when 5th rounders turn into really good players because that is much more rare than for, say, a 2nd rounder.

[White Linen]

23 minutes ago, wppete said:

So was Milano

 

Money perfectly spent.

[Ray Stonada]

Solomon looked great in spots his rookie year, got to the QB lightning fast a few times when he got a snap. Second year he didn't get much chances. 

 

McD's defense tends to make players overthink.

 

If Leonhardt gets him back to having one job, rushing the QB, he could be a 10 sack guy IMO.

[Freddie's Dead]

No.

[SydneyBillsFan]

I don't see how he can go from a complete non factor to a meaningful contributor. Does not compute.

[GunnerBill]

I liked the pick at the time and I can certainly see in theory why the scheme change could help. But his lack of explosiveness off the snap has been a problem in the NFL. 

[transplantbillsfan]

5 hours ago, NoSaint said:

I’m optimistic in the same way I am when I pick a lottery ticket up off the ground. 
 

could be fun but tremendously overwhelming odds that the thrill was the suspense and not the actual outcome 

 

Not quite the analogy when talking about a player who led the highest level of college football in sacks a few years ago.