Moving on to the Lions first of two third-round selections, Notre Dame pass-rushing linebacker Julian Okwara, Pro Football Focus, which did not love the Swift selection, was all in on the Lions pick of Okwara, calling the pick “highway robbery” and touting that the Lions got a first-round talent in the third round:
Getting a first-round talent in the third round is always a great thing, and that’s exactly what happened with the Lions and Julian Okwara. Matt Patricia has to love Okwara’s explosiveness off the line, overall athleticism and long arms. Before he got hurt in Week 11, Okwara was having one of the best seasons by an edge rusher by owning an elite 90.4 pass-rush grade. This is highway robbery for the Lions.
Sports Illustrated loved the pick as well, giving the Lions an “A+”:
Julian is a different style of defensive lineman than his older brother Romeo, whom he’ll now be teammates with in Detroit. While Romeo is a long and somewhat thick-bodied moderate NFL-caliber athlete who is highly dependent on his mechanics, Julian is more of a dynamic edge defender, with the length, burst and flexibility to turn the corner and reach the quarterback. Guys with those attributes are not usually available in Round 3. The Lions desperately needed to buttress their pass rush; you’ll likely see Julian Okwara in a passing down sub-package specialist role in 2020.
On the other end of the spectrum, Yahoo! Sports was not as sold on that selection, giving it a “B-” grade:
We have an Okwara reunion in Detroit! Older brother Romeo is already with the Lions, and younger brother Julian likely wouldn’t be on the board this late had he not suffered a broken leg last season. He has some pass-rush tools and outstanding athletic traits but must become a better run defender and be a little more accountable.
And Bleacher Report disliked the pick, handing out a poor “C-” grade:
Okwara is a pure stand-up edge-rusher who can win with quickness and explodes into the ball-carrier. He lacks a plan when blockers latch on, though he does keep moving through contact, so he could grow into a useful run defender if he adds bulk, strength and experience. He’s alert when responding to option meshes, and he’s quick enough to drop into zone coverage now and then without embarrassing his defensive coordinator.
Okwara will probably max out as a situational edge-rusher, but he has the right mix of traits and hustle to stick on a roster and contribute. An all-Okwara pass rush sounds like fun, and the Lions need edge-rushers, but this pick is a reach that demonstrates a disturbing lack of imagination on the Lions’ part.