Continuing our series on the 2023 NFL draft, we check in with LSU Tigers Wire editor Tyler Nettuno.
At the beginning of the 2022 college football season, both B.J. Ojulari and Kayshon Boutte were viewed as first-round caliber talents. Fast forward nine months and neither player has been consistently viewed in that same tier.
However, as we have seen time and time again, the NFL draft is often full of surprises. Ojulari was outshined by five-star linebacker Harold Perkins in 2022 but don’t let that fool you, he still has plenty to offer his next team. Not to mention he can lean on the experience of his brother Azeez Ojulari.
“Ojulari is a borderline first-round talent but will likely hear his name called on Day 2 as a member of a deep edge rushing class”, Nettuno said. “He’s viewed as a bit of a one-trick pony, but it’s quite a trick. Ojulari is one of the better pure pass rushers in this draft and likely projects as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He struggles to contain mobile quarterbacks or defend the run, but Ojulari would be a great fit for a team looking to add a pass-rushing specialist given his athleticism and arsenal of moves.”
There are plenty of teams in need of a guy who can come in on passing downs to provide help in the trenches. As he develops into a productive run stopper, his opportunities should grow.
As far as Boutte is concerned, we expected to see him blow up in his junior season like we saw from Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. However, it never came to fruition. With that being said, I wouldn’t count out the New Orleans talent from making an impact at the next level as his predecessors did.
“Once seen as a sure-thing first-rounder, Boutte had a disappointing 2022 campaign after an ankle injury ended what was shaping up to be a fantastic 2021 season.” Nettuno continues, “Boutte never quite looked the same, and he tested poorly at the combine. Boutte is a strong route-runner and is great with the ball in his hands, but his performance in the pre-draft process has hurt his stock considerably. It would be a gamble to take him as a receiver-needy team, but for a team with a reliable receiver that is looking to add a weapon, Boutte could be a steal of a No. 2 option on Days 2 or 3.”
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Check out our colleagues at LSU Tigers Wire for more on the Bayou Bengals. For more draft coverage check out Draft Wire, part of the USA TODAY SMG network.