Player: Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
Pick: Round 2, 43rd overall
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 259 pounds
Workout results: Recovering from a shoulder injury, he did not run or do drills at the Combine or his Pro day. He did some position drills at the Pro Day only.
Bio: A five-year player at Hawaii, with a red-shirt 2014 season. He had huge stats his last three seasons. In 34 games, 335 tackles, 36 of them for loss, and 14.5 sacks. He missed the last four games of 2018 because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was suspended for the 2018 season opener after being charged with assault for an incident at a night club.
Analyst's take -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "While the level of competition wasn't always noteworthy his impact production was. Tavai offers an NFL frame, good play strength, an aggressive demeanor and almost 10 tackles per game over the last three seasons. He could be a good three-down backup who could develop into an eventual starter inside."
Mike O'Hara's take: A high-volume tackler, but the level of competition – Mountain West Conference – has to be taken into consideration.
View photos of linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
Hawaii Warriors linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at Air Force Academy, Colo. Hawaii won 34-27 in double overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Photo by: Jay Metzger / University of Hawaii Athletics
Photo by: Jay Metzger / University of Hawaii Athletics
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai poses for a headshot during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Nevada's James Butler runs past Hawaii defender Jahlani Tavai in an NCAA college football game in Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) keeps his eyes on the football before making an interception in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai, front left, watches as Fresno State quarterback Marcus McMaryion (6) throws a pass during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai, left, intercepts a pass intended for San Jose State wide receiver Rahshead Johnson (8) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Honolulu. Hawaii defensive back Kalen Hicks (16) looks on during the play. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Wyoming wide receiver Austin Conway dodges a tackle from Hawaii linebackers Jeremiah Pritchard (10) and Jahlani Tavai (31) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Laramie, Wyo., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Shannon Broderick)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) tries to pull down Western Carolina quarterback Tyrie Adams (12) as he runs through the Hawaii defense during the first quarter of the NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai, left, tackles UNLV quarterback Dalton Sneed during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2016, file photo, Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai leads his teammates in the team's traditional haka, or war cry, after defeating Air Force 34-27 in double overtime in an NCAA college football game at Air Force Academy, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Nevada quarterback Tyler Stewart runs for the endzone against Hawaii defenders Jahlani Tavai, center, and Malachi Mageo in an NCAA college football game in Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)
Nevada running back James Butler (20) attempts to get past Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Wisconsin's Taiwan Deal tries to run between Hawaii's Jahlani Tavai (31) and Gaetano DeMattei during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) looks to tackle BYU running back Austin Kafentzis (2) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Wyoming running back Milo Hall (3) avoids a tackle from Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Laramie, Wyo., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Shannon Broderick)
UCLA running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (4) runs through Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) and linebacker Solomon Matautia (27) to score from the one-yard line during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. UCLA won 56-23. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) reaches out to tackle UNLV quarterback Dalton Sneed (18) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) looks over to the sideline in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai, left, tackles Air Force quarterback Nate Romine after a short run in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at Air Force Academy, Colo. Hawaii won 34-27 in double overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
San Diego State quarterback Christian Chapman, left, scrambles as Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) pressures during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Air Force running back Timothy McVey, right, tumbles into the end zone for a touchdown as offensive tackle James Rast, top left, clears a path past Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) and Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea (5) pressures Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Nevada running back James Butler, right, is slowed by Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) comes from behind to sack Fresno State quarterback Zack Greenlee (17) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (31) lines up for the next play against Nevada in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Nevada quarterback Tyler Stewart (15) escapes the grasp of Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai, right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Photo by: Jay Metzger / University of Hawaii Athletics
Photo by: Jay Metzger / University of Hawaii Athletics
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Tim Twentyman's take: Tavai is a tackle machine. That's my biggest take here. He was a chess piece in Hawaii's defense, and averaged 10 tackles per game over the last three years. He can play all linebacker spots due to his size (6-2, 250), which makes him Matt Patricia's type of player.
Linebacker depth chart: Jarrad Davis, Devon Kennard, Christian Jones, Steve Longa (injured, missed 2018), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (missed part of 2018) returning. Garret Dooley (practice squad 2018).
Offseason addition: Tre Williams
