Team Pressure defensive lineman, Jaquelin Roy, committed to LSU, (99) is introduced at the Under Armor All-America Game in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday January 2, 2020. Under37. © Mickey Welsh, Montgomery Advertiser via Imagn Content Services, LLC.
Read ’em weep — the Minnesota Vikings have drafted WR Jordan Addison (USC), Mekhi Blackmon (USC), and S Jay Ward (LSU) to start the 2023 NFL Draft.
And in Round 5, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found a steal-of-a-deal from Ward’s school, LSU, in defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy.
The Vikings traded up in Round 5 with the Indianapolis Colts to grab Roy, jumping 17 spots at the price of a 2023 6th-Round pick.
Oddly, Adofo-Mensah has gone “two and two” with his first four picks, grabbing two USC Trojans to start the event and two LSU Tigers in Rounds 4 and 5. Roy has the central-casting build for a defensive tackle, standing 6’4″ and weighing about 305 pounds. He’s known for his physical toolset, general athleticism, and strength. For now, Roy isn’t classified as an elite pass-rushing prospect, so that skillset will need refinement in Brian Flores’ defense.
Minnesota has a crowded house in April at Roy’s position, and he’ll need an effective summer to earn a roster spot and avoid the practice squad. This is the group as of late April:
DT1: Harrison Phillips
DT2: Dean Lowry
DT3: James Lynch
DT4: Jonathan Bullard
DT5: Ross Blacklock
DT6: Kenny Willekes
DT7: Esezi Otomewo
DT8: Jaquelin Roy
The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez described Roy heading into the draft, “Roy has a prototype frame and appears to have the athletic upside that gives him the potential to be a very productive player in the NFL. Roy’s athletic upside helps him as both a run defender and as a pass rusher. As a run defender, Roy uses his athleticism to be able to quickly get into gaps and present penetration to potentially disrupt a play. Roy also shows the ability to play well against zone run plays.”
“As a pass rusher, Roy uses his athleticism to be effective on twists and stunts. Roy is a fluid mover and can flip his hips and get into tight spaces to provide penetration. Roy also does a good job in one-on-one situations attacking the edges of offensive linemen to attack an opening to get pressure on the quarterback,” Sanchez concluded.
Roy played 31 games at LSU, tabulating 97 total tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. He joined the Tigers the year after Justin Jefferson left for the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft.
He’ll turn 23 in October.
Roy was No. 105 on the draft consensus big board. Minnesota drafted him at No. 141.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.