What to Know: LSU IDL Jaquelin Roy visited with Packers
By Paul Bretl
LSU interior defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy was on an official top-30 pre-draft visit with the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, per his Instagram. Each team can host 30 prospects for visits at the facility prior to the draft.
Roy measured in at 6’3″ – 305 pounds and posted a below-average Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 4.30. Typically, the general thought would be that this would take Roy off the Packers board, with 30 of Brian Gutekunst’s draft picks posting a RAS of 8.0 or higher.
However, when it comes to the interior defensive line position, there has been little to glean from the athletic testing of those players selected under Gutekunst. For reference, Jonathan Ford, a seventh-round pick by the Packers in 2022, recorded a RAS of 3.53. Kingsley Keke, another former draft pick, had a RAS below 8.0, as did TJ Slaton.
Roy was on the field for 1,328 career snaps with LSU and provided a steady presence in the middle. Most of his snaps came as a B-gap defender, although he did line up in the A-gap for 315 snaps, according to PFF ($$).
During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, where most of his playing time occurred, Roy totaled 55 pressures and four sacks. In 2022 specifically, he ranked 34th among all interior defenders in run stops.
On PFF’s big board, Roy is the 11th-ranked interior defender and the 113th prospect overall. For more on what Roy could off Green Bay, Lance Zierlein wrote this in his pre-draft report:
"“The more you watch, the more you like the way Roy plays the game. He’s a little tight in his lower body, which prevents consistent gap leverage as a run defender, but he has outstanding upper body power and plays with unbridled energy. Roy has one-gapping snap quickness and two-gapping potential if he can become more consistent with taking on blocks. Despite limited starting experience at LSU, he already displays signs of a rush plan and the athletic talent to execute it. Roy is an ascending talent with the potential to become a quality starter.”"
Although the Packers just spent a first-round pick on Devonte Wyatt in 2022, the interior defensive line remains a major need. At the moment, there are only five linemen on the roster, with just three of them having any NFL experience. With this being an often rotated position with four or even five defenders seeing regular playing time, added depth is a must.
On top of that, the Packers simply need more consistency from this position group in 2023. When the defense was playing its best at the end of the 2022 season, so was the defensive front, generating more consistent pressure along with holding up much better against the run. When there is a steady push from the interior, the entire defense benefits.
Perhaps TJ Slaton or Wyatt can be this player, but if the Packers can find someone to take on more of those A-gap snaps, that means more opportunities for Kenny Clark away from center, which should result in more one-on-ones, and that’s always a good thing.