Jaguars selected Louisville LB Yasir Abdullah with the No. 136 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Abdullah (6’1/237) spent five seasons harassing ACC quarterbacks off the edge, posting an elite PFF rush grade of 90.8 which was the fourth-highest mark in the P5 this year. Adept at attacking blockers’ edges when penetrating, Abdullah recorded 31.0 TFL over the last two seasons while leading the ACC with 9.5 sacks in 2022. The two-time All-ACC performer shows an ability to take on linemen that belies his undersized frame thanks to his rocked up physique and advanced ability to create leverage. An extremely effective havoc creator who is likely destined for an off-ball role in the NFL due to lack of length, Abdullah will have to adjust to playing in the middle of the defense and dropping into coverage. The good news is his 4.47s 40-yard dash (99th%), 1.48s 10-yard split (99th%), and 10’09” broad jump (98th%) combined for a 9.74 RAS verifies Abdullah’s high-level athleticism, which bodes well for a successful position change and value on special teams.
