ScoutIndex

JAX JAX

Jahlani Tavai

LB

Drafted 43rd overall in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft, Jahlani Tavai arrived from Hawaii. He's currently with JAX, in his 8th season in the league. He posted a 51.0 ScoutIndex Rating last season, an above-average mark that placed him in the 57th percentile among DEFs.

Size

6'2", 255#

College

Hawaii

Draft

Rd 2, 43rd overall (2019)

Seasons

2019–2026

2021 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
35.5

23th percentile among DEFs

9 games

Splash plays×0.15-0.44
Pass rush×0.3-0.64
Ball skills×0.25-0.68
Run defense×0.2-0.94
Availability×0.1-0.10

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2026JAX37.74
2025NE5112
2024NE60.417
2023NE61.817
2022NE47.517
2021NE35.59
2020DET46.515
2019DET55.214

Career profile

Jahlani Tavai has appeared in 105 regular-season games across 8 NFL seasons on file, playing for 3 teams: DET (2019–2020), NE (2021–2025), JAX (2026).

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2023: a 61.8, in the 80th percentile among DEFs that year.

2021 splits

regular season

2021 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 7NYJ—40.1
Week 8LAC—39.8
Week 9CAR—40.2
Week 10CLE—39.9
Week 11ATL—41.3
Week 12TEN—39.6
Week 15IND—40.2
Week 16BUF—40.8
Week 17JAX—40.8

Jahlani Tavai — common questions

What position does Jahlani Tavai play?
Jahlani Tavai is listed as an LB.
Which teams has Jahlani Tavai played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Jahlani Tavai has played for DET (2019–2020), NE (2021–2025), JAX (2026).
Where did Jahlani Tavai go to college?
Jahlani Tavai played college football at Hawaii.
When was Jahlani Tavai drafted?
Jahlani Tavai was selected in round 2, 43rd overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has Jahlani Tavai scored?
Jahlani Tavai has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is Jahlani Tavai's ScoutIndex Rating?
Jahlani Tavai rated 37.7 for 2026, the 27th percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 2, 2019

Also from Hawaii