Julian Okwara | EDGE | Notre Dame
Elevator Pitch
Okwara is a lanky and athletic edge rusher who brings plenty of physical upside and value on passing downs. While he might be limited to a rotational role on passing downs his rookie year, the speed, fluidity and versatility he possesses should see him off the board before the third round starts, even with his broken leg.
Vitals
Height | 6-4
Weight | 252
Strengths
It’s a shame Okwara was unable to participate in Combine drills, because he likely would have knocked them out of the park.
He is an athletic force off the edge who accelerates well as a stand-up rusher and has plenty of bend and flexibility when chasing down the passer. He is able to turn the corner very well, as his body control, flexibility and speed allow him to maintain sharp pursuit angles while ripping and dipping underneath offensive tackles. Okwara is a fluid player who can change direction seamlessly and move around naturally in space. That fluidity, along with his long arms and solid height, gives him some value when dropping back in coverage. He has the raw speed to chase down backside plays and still make an impact, as well.
Okwara plays with a high motor as a pass rusher and fights hard on every snap. He constantly fights to get inside hand leverage and keeps his feet churning when engages with blockers. He has flashed some quickness in his hands, swiping away his opponents’ hands and showing off some promise as a finesse rusher. His production in 2018 was impressive, as he tallied 8 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss. The former Golden Domer has NFL in his bloodline, too, as his brother is Detroit Lions edge rusher Romeo Okwara.
Weaknesses
As is the case with some of the lankier, more athletic edge rushers to come out of college, Okwara needs to improve his play strength. Granted, his Combine weight of 252 pounds was heavier than he was ever listed at when he played for Notre Dame – which is a good thing – but he needs to prove that his weight gain translates to a more physical style of play. He doesn’t have much lower-body strength in his frame, and he fails to generate much momentum when going for a power move. He doesn’t pack much of a punch at the initial point of attack either, and his upright style of rushing prevents him from rushing with power even further. His pad level will have to improve a bit in the pros.
Okwara struggles as a run defender, which will likely limit his snap count early on in his NFL career. He isn’t all that great at setting the edge or eating up gaps in run support. His grip strength could be worked on when he attempts to hold on through blocks against the run. He could also stand to add some counter moves to his arsenal, as he can be taken out of plays when he doesn’t win at the first sight of contact. Plus, with a broken leg having ended his 2019 season prematurely, the medicals will need to check out on him.
Projection: 2nd Round
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