JJ #90

Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Linebacker · Notre Dame

A five-year Ohio State product who found a bigger role in a single season at Notre Dame before Washington drafted him in the seventh round.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste spent four seasons developing as a rotational edge rusher at Ohio State before a final transfer season at Notre Dame raised his draft stock. The Washington Commanders took a seventh-round flier on him in 2024, and he has spent his first two pro seasons battling for a consistent role while working through injuries.

★ Seventh-round pick (222nd overall) by Washington in the 2024 NFL Draft

★ Recorded a career-high eight tackles against Ohio State while at Notre Dame in 2023

★ Posted 9.5 tackles for loss in his lone season at Notre Dame

Path to the league

A four-star recruit out of Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, Jean-Baptiste redshirted his first year at Ohio State in 2018 and worked as a rotational pass rusher over four seasons, totaling 52 tackles and 8 sacks. He transferred to Notre Dame for his final year in 2023, recording 47 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and 4 sacks, including a career-high eight tackles against his former team, Ohio State. Washington selected him in the seventh round (222nd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Jean-Baptiste's best college production came in his lone Notre Dame season, where his 9.5 tackles for loss and standout performance against Ohio State helped him land on an NFL roster as a Day 3 pick. At Ohio State, his most productive year was 2022, when he posted 19 tackles and 4 sacks, including a two-sack game against Toledo.

2025 season recap

Jean-Baptiste's 2024 rookie season featured his first career sack in Week 3 but was interrupted by an ankle injury that sidelined him from mid-October to late November; he finished with 13 tackles and 1.0 sack in 12 games. His 2025 season was cut short by a torn pectoral muscle suffered in Washington's Week 4 loss to Atlanta, which landed him on injured reserve on October 1, 2025.