Tag: Julian Okwara

National media gives mixed reviews to Lions’ Day 2 draft picks

No real surprises here when it comes to the Detroit Lions, National media gives mixed reviews to Lions’ Day 2 draft picks.

The Detroit Lions may have walked out of day two of the 2020 NFL Draft with potentially three new starters, and while some of those picks were very well received by the national media, others did not fare as well.

D’Andre Swift grades

Starting with the Lions first selection, Georgia running back D’Andre Swift, Yahoo! Sports was a big fan of the selection, giving it an “A-“:

The Lions wanted to add juice to the offense, and Swift is exactly that. Can he stay healthy? My only concern. Swift isn’t built to be a workhorse but can be a great complement to Kerryon Johnson and a 15-touch-per-game weapon right away.

Sports Illustrated also gave the pick an “A-.”  SI believes that Swift can “do wonders” for the Lions offense:

Try, try again. That’s what the Lions have been doing at running back ever since Barry Sanders’s unexpected retirement 21 years ago. Swift was a highly refined zone runner at Georgia and will operate mainly out of those designs in coordinator Darrell Bevell’s offense. He has the lateral agility to create his own space, and his potential explosiveness as a receiver could do wonders for a Lions offense that must regain some aerial balance after becoming heavily skewed toward vertical throws in 2019. With sustaining third-year back Kerryon Johnson aboard, expect Swift to fill an Alvin Kamara type role.

USA Today Draft Wire wasn’t quite as bullish on the Swift pick, but the “B+” grade still looks good on the report card:

A bit of a surprise here, but it’s hard to complain about the value the Lions are getting here. The Lions spent a second-round pick two years ago on Kerryon Johnson, but durability has been an issue.

Swift is a first-round talent with a complete skill set who can make big plays on all three downs. He’s a physical runner with fantastic quickness and vision, with the explosiveness to hit paydirt on every touch.

There were bigger needs elsewhere on both sides of the ball in Detroit, but Swift gives them an immediate upgrade in the backfield, and he’s a bargain outside the first round.

On the more negative side of the equation, Pro Football Focus was not nearly as happy – even though Swift was the site’s top-rated running back:

And there goes our string of picks we love to start out Day 2. We all know 35th overall is way too early in PFF’s eyes for a running back — there’s just not enough value there. While the value is incredibly poor, the Lions did get PFF’s RB1 and one who can get the job done in the receiving game, which we like in running backs. Swift can route routes from any alignment and has sure-fire hands with only three drops on 76 career catchable targets. Still, this doesn’t remotely justify the pick this early.

Bleacher Report also was not thrilled with the pick, giving it a poor “C” grade:

Swift is a prototypical NFL running back. He’s a tough downhill runner with devastating one-cut ability, the power to finish runs and the receiving chops to be useful on passing downs. Having shared touches with the likes of Chubb and Elijah Holyfield, he also isn’t as worn down as other collegiate workhorses.

Swift has Todd Gurley-esque potential. That makes him an incredible value in the second round. The Lions will get his best years at a relatively low salary and worry about wear and tear (or let his next employer worry about it) later. And the Lions have a need at running back after last season’s injury rash. With that said, the Lions have needs at much harder-to-fill positions like edge-rusher, making this a questionable selection.

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Julian Okwara evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions third-round pick Julian Okwara.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions third-round pick Julian Okwara, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

Evaluator: Dane Brugler’s “The Beast”

“A two-year starter at Notre Dame, Okwara lined up primarily as a stand-up rusher in Clark Lea’s hybrid 4-3 scheme, rushing from both sides. He was only 215 pounds when he arrived in South Bend and has come a long way in his development, although he is still far from reaching his ceiling. Okwara screams off the edge with the speed that makes quarterbacks uncomfortable, using that same athleticism to drop and make plays away from the line of scrimmage. He often appears aimless in his rush plan with erratic hands and too many “almost” plays on his tape. Overall, Okwara is an inconsistent run defender with strength and consistency questions, but he is an exceptional athlete with a projectable body, projecting as a high risk, high reward pass rusher.”

NFL.com

Evaluator: Lance Zierlein

“The lanky edge rusher followed up an impressive 2018 with a slightly disappointing senior season that saw a drop in production and ended prematurely due to a broken leg. One look at his NFL brother (Romeo Okwara, Lions) should tell teams to project Julian as a bigger, stronger player with time. He has build-up speed up around the edge and carries an impressive closing burst to seal the deal, but he’s in desperate need of a rush counter to keep tackles guessing. He hasn’t shown a consistent ability to play the run, so his NFL success could generate a thumbs up or down based primarily on his ability to cause havoc as a rusher.”

Pro Football Focus

Draft guide

“Okwara is an interesting prospect for a number of reasons. The first being his pure athleticism. At his listed 6-4 1/2 and 248 pounds, he moves more like a tight end or wide receiver than an edge defender. The second is
that even though he’s undersized, his bull-rush is his go-to pass-rushing move. That’s a very interesting combination, the likes of which you rarely see from a college prospect. It’s also one that we’d bet on translating to the NFL – especially since it’s already translated to the college football field.”

The Draft Network

Evaluator: Kyle Crabbs

“Julian Okwara projects as a potential starter as a rush linebacker at the NFL level. Okwara’s functional athleticism and burst off the edge can be a potent weapon in an offense where he can serve as the complementary rusher and attack in 1 on 1 situations. Okwara’s lack of power components can restrict his effectiveness if additional attention is directed his way in pass protection but his pure speed components from wide alignments will garner pressure.”

Draft Wire

Evaluator: Jacob Infante

“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.”

Grading the Detroit Lions’ selection of Julian Okwara

Our Max Gerber hands out grades for the Detroit Lions’ selection of Julian Okwara.

With the 67th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected Notre Dame EDGE rusher Julian Okwara.

Though many fans are upset with the team waiting until round three to select a pass rusher, this selection did not disappoint.

Okwara is versatile and I could see him taking either the JACK linebacker or down defensive end role. He has an intense burst right off the line of scrimmage and uses his athletic tools to his advantage to rush the passer.

This pick is a big win for Detroit for a lot of reasons. First of all, this is the highest that an EDGE rusher has been drafted by the Lions since Ziggy Ansah in 2013. In fact, general manager Bob Quinn hasn’t taken a pass rusher earlier than the fourth round in his four years with the Lions.

All of that changes with Okwara. The Lions landed a physical defensive end whose specialty is the pass rush. This is something that they have seriously lacked for a long time. It’s looking like Okwara will start opposite of Trey Flowers, with Da’Shawn Hand and Danny Shelton anchoring the line from the interior.

Detroit needed to upgrade their pass rush, linebackers, and defensive line, and they got all of that in one package by selecting Okwara in the third round.

Grade: A

5 things to know about Julian Okwara

Get to know the Detroit Lions third-round pick. Here are five things to know about EDGE rusher Julian Okwara.

As we enter the third round, we get to welcome another much-needed player to the team, Julian Okwara, EDGE from Notre Dame.

Here are a few things to know about the newest Lions player.

  1.  First and foremost he’s the brother of current Lion defensive end Romeo Okwara. They moved from Nigeria to the States when Julian was 8 years old. He also followed his brother to Notre Dame.
  2. He was a team captain at Notre Dame in 2019.  Unfortunately, his season got cut short due to a broken fibula. Because of his injury, he didn’t do much in the Combine, but he did have 27 bench press reps.
  3. I’ve seen 3 different places listed as his place of birth: London, England, Charlotte, NC and Nigeria.  The only consistent thing is that he was born on December 27, 1997. You can’t always trust the internet kids.
  4. He was a student at the Mendoza College of Business and was a management consulting major.
  5. Julian and Romeo are among at least four other sibling sets that play in the NFL. They join the Watt brothers, the Griffin brothers, McCourty brother, and the Edmunds brothers.

Welcome to Detroit Julian! Let’s hope your brother doesn’t play too many rookie jokes on you!

Third-round pick Julian Okwara sits atop defensive depth chart

Examining how third-round pick Julian Okwara will likely sit atop the Detroit Lions defensive depth chart at the JACK linebacker position.

The Detroit Lions finally got themselves an EDGE rusher.

One of the few remaining holes on the roster, the team had done nothing to bolster the position group this offseason. That changed in a major way with third-round pick Julian Okwara.

He played the JACK linebacker role at Notre Dame, but his size and strength could land him a spot as a pure defensive end instead. Detroit will have a choice to make, but you can never go wrong with a versatile defensive playmaker like Okwara.

If he goes the JACK linebacker route, he will immediately unseat 2019 fourth-round pick Austin Bryant for that role, and allow newly-signed Jamie Collins and 2019 second-round pick Jahlani Tavai to move around the defense a little more.

If he finds himself lining up as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end, his older brother, Romeo Okwara, may lose his role on defense. Romeo played more than half of the Lions’ defensive snaps in 2019 at the defensive end position. Starting alongside whichever Okwara brother wins the job is Trey Flowers.

Matt Patricia’s “multiple” defense makes the projected defensive line depth chart hard to sort out. Flowers and Julian Okwara would likely be the starters in Week 1, with Romeo Okwara and “tweener” defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand rotating in often.

Defensive end Jonathan Wynn has the most to lose from the selection of Okwara, as his chances of surviving through roster cuts have diminished immensely. Defensive tackles Frank Herron and Kevin Strong, who have been used as pass rushers on occasion, will see a decrease in snaps as well.

All in all, drafting Okwara is a great move for either position group that he plays in. The Lions have earned themselves a talented and versatile starter on the edge.

Instant analysis of the Lions selecting EDGE Julian Okwara

With their first third round pick, the Detrot Lions selected Julian Okwara to bring a pass rushing presence to the defense.

With their first of two picks in the third round, the Lions selected Julian Okwara to fill in the vacant JACK linebacker position and assist with the pass rush.

There will be a family reunion in Detroit as Julian Okwara is the brother of the current Lion Romeo Okwara. Julian missed a good portion of last season because of a broken fibula, but he was still regarded as one of the better pass rushers in this draft.

Julian primarily lined up as a stand-up rusher playing in a hybrid 4-3 scheme, registering 15.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss while at Notre Dame. He possesses the athleticism to not only be a productive rusher but also has great coverage ability. Even though he could use some refinement when it comes to pass-rushing, but he screams off the edge with his long arms and make it quite uncomfortable in the backfield.

The biggest knock against him is his run defense and setting the edge, but likely those aspects are coachable. Even though his speed is what makes him so dangerous, that is also what gets him into trouble, overrunning potential tackles at times. Due to some of the missed time, some believe he still needs refinement to his game.

The Lions have struggled to create any consistent pass-rushing attack and desperately needed a presence on the other side of Trey Flowers. With his versatility and athleticism, Okwara will fit into Matt Patricia’s defense like a glove.

Okwara is a high risk-high reward player, but with his brother in town, Romeo will surely help him reach his full potential.

2020 NFL Draft: Final Bills Wire staff mocks

Final Bills Wire staff mock drafts for the 2020 NFL Draft for the Buffalo Bills.

Little introduction needed.

It’s Thursday and the 2020 NFL Draft is upon us. While the Bills don’t have a first-round pick as things kickoff, Buffalo still enters the selection process with seven picks.

The first is slated in the second round and the last at No. 239. What could the Bills possibly do with those?

The Bills Wire staff once again comes together to present perhaps the largest grouping of mock for Bills Mafia to digest. Managing editor Nick Wojton’s final mock is joined by contributors Kyle Silagyi, Justin DiLoro, Matt Johnson, McKenna Middlebrook and Jeremy Juhasz.

Check out all six mock drafts here, and either let us know on social media or our message boards which one you’d prefer:

Boise State Broncos linebacker Curtis Weaver. Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

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Nick’s mock

Round 2 | No. 54: DE Curtis Weaver, Boise State

Round 3 | No. 86: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

Round 4 | No. 128: RB Zach Moss, Utah

Round 5 | No. 167: RB/ WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis

Round 6 | No. 188: WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty

Round 6 | No. 207: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati

Round 7 | No. 239: OL Daryl Williams, Ole Miss

Without a need in sight for the Bills, it’s best player available time in Orchard Park. Starting things off my mock is Boise State’s Curtis Weaver. He lacks some speed, but aside from that, what didn’t he do in the Mountain West? Where he won the Defensive Player of the Year Award just last season. With that in mind, Weaver could be a first-round talent the Bills grab in the second round because he’ll have to prove he can play in the pros. The Bills can stick him in their defensive line rotation and even give him a bit of a redshirt type of season behind Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison.

If the move is Weaver, Round 2 must be offense, right? Not here. Akeem Davis-Gaither, the App. State linebacker, is the move. Two things are for sure about Sean McDermott. He runs that rotation on the D-line, and he loved what Lorenzo Alexander brought to the table. AJ Klein is a short-term fix for the Bills there, but Davis-Gaither can be groomed for the long haul.

Finally some offense, and some offense the rest of the way for me. Running back Zach Moss from Utah isn’t going to be Frank Gore in the locker room, but he can be him on the field. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in power. A strong complement to Devin Singletary. Sticking in the backfield, kind of… Antonio Gibson from Memphis is snagged next. His stock falls because he doesn’t even have a true position to play. Is he a running back? Is he a wideout? Some teams would shy from that, Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will love it.

Liberty’s Antonio Gandy-Golden, Cincinnati’s Josiah Deguara and Ole Miss’s Daryl Williams rounds this out. Gandy-Golden, at 6-foot-4, brings some size at the wideout room. The Bills brought in Greg Olsen this offseason for a free agent visit, so Deguara, who’s met with the Bills multiple times in the pre-draft process, is a late-round pick as a tight end, and then Williams could compete with… you guessed it, the Daryl Williams already signed in free agency, for playing time on the O-line. But on a more serious note, he’s a former team captain and versatile.

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Welcome to NFL Draft Week – Final Mock Time

PFF has been a huge fan of one Notre Dame player ahead of the draft. They have him move up a spot in their last mock before Draft Day, 2020.

Welcome to NFL Draft week as on Thursday night we’ll get all the locations for the first 32 picks in 2020.  Will Notre Dame see one of their former players called?  Many thought Cole Kmet had the potential to but that thought seems to have simmered.

One outlet who has been a big fan of Julian Okwara from the get-go continues to be as they released their final mock draft on Monday.

Pro Football Focus has been a bigger fan of Notre Dame edge rusher Julian Okwara more-so than anywhere else.  They’ve regularly had him being selected in their first round for literally months now and the latest edition is no different as they have Okwara going 27th overall to the Seattle Seahawks, courtesy of Steve Palazzolo.

Okwara has a fantastic combination of burst, length and power, and the Seahawks might like Mike Renner’s Chris Clemons comp from the PFF draft guide. Okwara has the movement skills to dabble at linebacker in the right scheme, but he’s likely a pure edge rusher for Seattle. He finished with an outstanding 90.4 pass-rush grade last season, though he’s got work to do against the run where he graded at just 64.0. 

This is actually a pick higher than they’ve had Okwara going in recent mocks as they had previously had him linked to the Ravens for quite some time.  Either way, Okwara and Notre Dame fans will be thrilled if he gets his name called Thursday night because aside from Pro Football Focus, nobody else lately seems to believe any former Domers have a shot at having their names called in round one.