Jah Joyner DL/EDGE Minnesota | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jah Joyner DL/EDGE Minnesota
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/14/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.75 seconds (84%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 02/14/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.75 seconds (84%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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82% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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64% |
| Pass Rush: |
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80% |
| Run Defense: |
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71% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#160
Position rank:
#39
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1200 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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Draft Profile: Bio
Born in Connecticut, Jah Joyner dominated the high school ranks at Danbury High School, where his explosive athleticism and natural pass-rushing instincts produced 24 sacks over his final two seasons. His monstrous senior year campaign of 13 sacks in just eight games earned him First Team All-FCIAC honors and a spot on the Connecticut High School Football Coaches Association All-State Top-26 Team. The four-star recruit initially committed to Boston College before flipping to Minnesota, where his development would require patience and trust in the process.After redshirting in 2021, Joyner began making his presence felt in the Big Ten, working his way from a rotational piece to an impact defender. His breakout 2023 campaign saw him lead the Golden Gophers with 7.5 sacks despite starting just one game, showcasing the explosive potential that had remained dormant in his early years. The 6'5", 265-pound edge rusher built on that momentum in 2024, earning his first full-time starting role and demonstrating improved awareness with seven batted passes while collecting 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
His steady progression caught the attention of NFL scouts, earning him invites to both the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. The Academic All-Big Ten selection showed he could process information off the field while developing the instincts needed between the white lines, transforming from a raw athlete into a legitimate NFL prospect over his five years in Minneapolis.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Devastating first-step explosion jumps off the tape, routinely beating tackles off the snap and forcing them to overcompensate, creating counter opportunities inside
- Violent hand strikes pack serious pop - when he lands clean, tackles get rocked back on their heels and struggle to recover their anchor
- Freakish 35-inch arms serve as constant weapons, whether he's creating separation in the run game or batting down passes with exceptional timing
- Shows some serious dog when he breaks free to the quarterback, closing with bad intentions and the burst to convert pressures into sacks
- Gets stronger as games progress, showing a relentless motor that wears down offensive tackles in the fourth quarter like a heavyweight body puncher
- Quick, compact hand usage pops when he's locked in, especially his nasty cross-chop move that consistently creates edge wins
- High football IQ as a rusher, setting up tackles with speed threats before crossing their face with explosive inside counters
- Flashes devastating bull rush potential when he maintains leverage, showing the raw power to walk tackles straight back into the quarterback
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Hand placement becomes erratic under pressure, causing him to lose control of blocks he should dominate with his length and power
- Base narrows significantly against double teams, allowing offensive linemen to uproot him despite his prototype frame and natural strength
- Counter moves come out too slowly when initial rush stalls, leaving him stuck on blocks while the quarterback finds escape lanes
- Lacks consistency converting speed to power, often failing to generate the force his frame suggests he should possess
- Run fits remain inconsistent - will lose gap integrity pursuing the ball, creating cutback lanes that negate his penetration
Scouting Report: Summary
Joyner enters the NFL as a developmental prospect whose draft position reflects the significant gap between his athletic gifts and current technical refinement. While his combination of length, burst, and heavy hands provides an intriguing foundation, his inconsistent production and raw technique suggest a longer runway to meaningful contribution than his physical traits might indicate.His best path forward lies in a 4-3 system with an established pass rush rotation, where he can develop in a specialized role while building out his technical arsenal. The flashes of dominance are there, particularly in obvious passing situations, but his struggles against the run and inconsistent hand usage make him a liability as an every-down player early in his career.
A Day 3 selection feels appropriate for a prospect whose ceiling remains intriguing but whose floor could be quite low. Teams will need to weigh his athletic testing numbers and occasional dominant reps against his overall body of work - 13.5 career sacks across five years suggests his development curve may be longer than ideal for a player his age. The tools are there for a rotational pass rusher with upside, but expecting more could lead to disappointment.
Jah Joyner percentiles vs other Defensive Lines (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jah Joyner (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
145.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
48.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.