Tag: Julian Okwara

4-round mock draft sees Bills fortify defense

The Bills have added a lot to their defense this offseason and when the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around, Draft Wire sees that trend more than continuing. 

The Bills have added a lot to their defense this offseason and when the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around, Draft Wire sees that trend more than continuing.

With their first-round pick now turned into wide receiver Stefon Diggs via trade, the Bills decide stick on defense with their next three picks in DW’s mock, selecting an edge defender, defensive back and defensive lineman.

Here’s a rundown of the Bills’ three selections in Draft Wire’s latest mock draft:

Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Julian Okwara. Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

54. Buffalo Bills | Julian Okwara | EDGE | Notre Dame

While the Bills added Mario Addison to their defensive end spot this offseason, he’s 32 while Jerry Hughes is 31. While still plenty left in the tank for those two, Buffalo lacks a long-term prospect at the position.

At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Okwara has the makings of an NFL defensive end. Okwara sat out the recent combine due to injury, but he’s flashed as a strong pass rusher at Notre Dame who plays with a high motor, something the Bills will covet. Run defense is where Okwara will likely need to prove his worth at the pro level.

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PODCAST: Full Bills’ mock draft, post-free agency edition

Kyle Silagyi is joined by Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to construct a seven-round 2020 mock draft for the Buffalo Bills.

The Buffalo Bills were aggressive in improving its roster to start the 2020 NFL offseason, acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings before adding eight players through free agency.

The Bills are now left with a roster that lacks any glaring holes. Though there are areas in which the team could improve, Buffalo appears to currently possess something it hasn’t since the early 1990s – a Super Bowl-caliber roster.

Though the team’s roster is already stout, the Bills could strengthen its fortunes with a strong 2020 draft. On this episode of The Kyle Silagyi Variety Hour, host Kyle Silagyi is joined by BillsWire staff writers Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to construct a seven-round post-free agency mock draft for Buffalo.

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Vikings go defensive end, wide receiver in CBS Sports mock draft

CBS Sports predicts that the Vikings will draft Notre Dame defensive end Julian Okwara and Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims in the first round.

Minnesota reportedly traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and defensive end Everson Griffen announced on Instagram that he was leaving the team.

That means the Vikings currently have openings at wide receiver and defensive end. CBS Sports thinks the team could go fix those issues in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Minnesota drafted Notre Dame defensive end Julian Okwara with the No. 22 overall pick in a recent CBS Sports mock draft. Then, the Vikings picked Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims at No. 25 in the mock draft.

These picks make sense, especially Mims at 25. I think the No. 22 overall pick might be an offensive lineman, either a tackle or a guard. Guard would make sense because the team terminated Josh Kline’s contract. However, it is a tackle-heavy draft, and tackle Riley Reiff could either be a cap casualty or the team could move him to guard. But regardless, Minnesota has options in the draft come April, with 12 picks in total after reportedly trading Diggs.

2020 NFL draft: Julian Okwara scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Notre Dame edge defender prospect Julian Okwara

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

College Bio Page

Career Stats

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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Chiefs taking interest in Notre Dame DL Julian Okwara

Okwara’s older brother Romeo played for Kansas City Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo with the New York Giants.

The Kansas City Chiefs met with several edge defenders at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Among the 45 allotted formal interviews was Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara, a standout pass rusher who found his senior season ended prematurely due to injury. The injury has put a bit of a chip on his shoulder throughout the pre-draft process because he feels that maybe teams have forgotten about him. The Chiefs weren’t one of those teams.

Julian has a unique connection to a coach on the Kansas City staff. His older brother Romeo Okwara entered the league under Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Romeo worked his way up from an undrafted free agent in his rookie season to starting four games for the Giants. The work ethic Romeo showed served as a positive example for Julian throughout his football career.

“[Romeo] being undrafted, he’s had a different path than me,” Julian said of his brother. “Hopefully I get drafted. He’s just taught to work hard from afar. I think it went unsaid, but just looking at him and the way he went about his business, he had to work every single year he’s been in the league. Him going into his fifth year in the league, that’s not something that’s common for a lot of guys. That’s rare for him and the path we’ve taken coming from Lagos, Nigeria — we don’t expect to be here. I don’t expect to be on this podium right now. I went back there this past summer and there’s a lot of kids just begging for food on the side of the street. I’m just grateful to be here. [I’m grateful] for the sacrifice my parents made for my brother, sister and I.”

Romeo is currently playing the Detroit Lions, but as we mentioned earlier he got his start with the Giants playing under Spagnuolo. Julian had a chance to meet with Spags during his formal with Kansas City at the combine.

“Right, it was cool,” Julian told Chiefs Wire. “I had a very good meeting with him. All of those meetings are tough. There’s definitely a lot of pressure in there. But I think that I’m prepared for it. At Notre Dame, you’re forced to know a lot of things, about the defense, about the NFL. You go about your business like a pro. That’s the first thing: Be a pro about your business. I hold myself to a high standard and I’m just ready to be in the NFL. I’m built for this. It’s just the way I’m wired.”

A consistent theme among the players we spoke to at the combine was that the Chiefs’ formal interviews weren’t a walk in the park. They have an idea of the type of players they need to win a championship. So when you walk into a formal meeting with Kansas City it’s business first, detail-oriented and as Utah RB Zack Moss described, “You feel like it’s a hostile environment.”

Julian Okwara fractured his left fibula during Notre Dame’s win over Duke in 2019. It was a game where he felt things were really starting to click for him. He’d even showed improvements in his run defense. He was expected to have a big season as a senior, but unfortunately, the season was cut short.

Okwara wasn’t quite ready to workout in full at the combine in Indianapolis, but he weighed in at 6-feet-4 and 252 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms. He also put up and impressive 27 bench press repetitions in his lone measurable drill. He’s known to be an exceptional athlete, so putting his workout on hold at the combine was tough for him. However, Okwara expects to be ready to workout in full at Notre Dame’s pro day on April 1. Expect the Chiefs to be among the teams in attendance for his pro day.

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Julian Okwara fits Tennessee Titans’ need, according to PFF

PFF believes EDGE Julian Okwara is a fit with the Titans.

With the Tennessee Titans in the market for a pass-rusher this offseason, Pro Football Focus believes Notre Dame EDGE Julian Okwara is a good fit with Tennessee.

In a list of “prospect fits” for all 32 NFL teams, PFF’s Ben Linsey pegs Okwara as someone who makes sense for the Titans.

“Like Weaver, Okwara is an edge rusher who PFF is higher on than most. And, again, it comes back to production. Okwara was highly productive across his last two seasons with the Fighting Irish, putting up pass-rushing grades of 86.5 in 2018 and 90.4 last season. He recorded pass-rush win rates of at least 23% both seasons as well. That level of production combined with his athleticism and length makes him intriguing as a pass-rushing specialist at the NFL level and eventual all-around edge defender. He may be undersized, but Okwara is still able to bring power with the bull-rush, one of his go-to moves.”

Linsey also notes that, at worst, Okwara could make an impact as a solid rotational pass-rusher in his rookie season.

Okwara totaled 13 sacks over his last two seasons (22 games) with The Fighting Irish. His 2019 season ended early thanks to a broken fibula suffered in November, or else his stock might be higher.

It’s also important to point out that Okwara played all over the defensive line for Notre Dame, so he does have some versatility.

If the Titans are looking for EDGE help in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Okwara is likely to be available with the No. 29 overall selection, but could be gone by the time the Titans pick in the second round.

While Tennessee’s pass-rush did see an overall improvement last season, it wasn’t by much. After a 2018 season in which the Titans totaled 39 sacks as a team, they posted just four more in 2019.

It was abundantly clear that the Titans needed more pass-rush help after the AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in which Patrick Mahomes carved up Tennessee’s defense with little resistance.

If the Titans are going to take that next step and be a Super Bowl team in 2020, they’ve got to do a better job of creating pressure and making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable.

The draft will be one way the Titans try to fix that issue, but general manager Jon Robinson must first consider making a big splash in free agency or in the trade market to ensure he adequately fills the need this offseason.

Julian Okwara not mad at Giants for cutting his brother

Notre Dame defensive lineman Julian Okwara says he holds no ill-will towards the New York Giants for cutting his brother, Romeo Okwara.

The New York Giants signed defensive end Romeo Okwara as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame following the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he went on to spend two years with the team.

During that span, Okwara appeared in 22 games (four starts), recording 28 tackles (two for a loss), two passes defensed, seven QB hits and one sack. He flashed several times, but never received the defensive snaps he seemed to warrant.

In September of 2018, Okwara was waived by the Giants and almost immediately claimed by the Detroit Lions, where his career has excelled.

Now in 2020, another Okwara is coming up through college and drawing interest at the 2020 NFL Combine.

Notre Dame defensive lineman Julian Okwara is under the bright lights in Indianapolis this time, and he’s fielded several questions about his brother. Among them has been whether or not he holds any ill-will towards the Giants for sending Romeo packing.

He does not.

“The Giants are a team that gave him a chance,” Julian said, via Newsday. “That’s the reason he’s with the Lions right now. He could have not been on a team. So I’m grateful to them for giving him an opportunity and hopefully it opens up a door for me.

“Whatever happened to him, in this league, you can bounce around from team to team. You have to work and be humble and hope to see the game the next day. You can get cut at any time. I’m not holding a grudge against them. It happens. It’s football.”

Julian said that he’d have no reservations about playing for the Giants if they called his name, but admits it would be “cool” to end up on the Lions’ roster alongside his Nigerian brother.

“It’d be cool,” Julian said. “I told him I’d move in with him on the couch and he’d have to pay the rent, I’m not splitting it. I’m the younger brother and that’s what older brothers do, they take care of younger brothers. But it’d be cool.”

As of Friday morning, the Giants have not held a formal or informal meeting with Julian.

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Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Puts One Notre Dame Player in Top 20

What is important to remember is how PFF chooses to do their mock drafts as its who the experts would pick there, not who they think teams are going to take.  So I guess “mock” is used even more liberally here.

Will a Notre Dame player go in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft?  Time will tell but if someone does it appears the best bets are either tight end Cole Kmet or edge rusher Julian Okwara.

Pro Football Focus released their latest mock draft on Monday and in it was a Notre Dame player not just in the first round, but in the top 20.

Austin Gayle of PFF had Julian Okwara going to the Las Vegas Raiders at 19 overall with the folllowing reasoning:

There’s currently not enough hype surrounding Okwara. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Notre Dame product is a freakish athlete with absurd bend and flexibility that defensive line coaches salivate over at the next level. His technique will require improvement at the next level, but he still earned a 90.4 PFF pass-rushing grade before his 2019 season was cut short due to injury. His pass-rushing grade improved every year of his career with the Fighting Irish.

What is important to remember is how PFF chooses to do their mock drafts as its who the experts would pick there, not who they think teams are going to take.  So I guess “mock” is used even more liberally here.

What is worth noting however is how sure they seem about Okwara even with him breaking his fibula against Duke and not playing in Notre Dame’s final four games of the 2019 season.

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: EDGE rushers

The Lions Wire staff has identified which EDGE rushers Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the EDGE rushers won’t take the field until Saturday, February 29th.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, and interior defensive linemen previews.

EDGE rusher traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the EDGE rushers are:

  • Bend, can they maintain speed when turning the corner?
  • Can they maintain balance when gearing up speed?
  • Reaction time, how quickly they transition.
  • Hand quickness and placement.
  • Head up. See the target, hit the target.

Chase Young, Ohio State

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler and Sonja Greenfield

The best player in the draft. If the Lions get lucky and Young falls to pick No. 3 — which is looking more and more like a possibility with the quarterbacks in this class — the Lions will likely run to the podium and turn their card in.

Young has a rare combination of traits. Size, speed, balance, bend, hand usage, and play recognition are all elite.

Young would line up at the down defensive end (DDE) position in Detroit with the option to rush from a standing JACK-like role at times. Despite the Lions just spending big money on Trey Flowers last offseason, the position is designed for two players to rotate through — creating constant pressure off the edge — with their additional snaps coming elsewhere (i.e. inside at 3-technique or at JACK).

Last season Flowers and Romeo Okwara rotated through the down defensive end position with Flowers seeing 62-percent of snaps and Okwara 53-percent. If the Lions land Young, they would split time between him and Flowers at DDE 100-percent of the time, while also being able to line them up next to each other around 25- to 30-percent of snaps.

A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon, Zack Moran, and Derek Okrie

A bigger version of Trey Flowers, Epenesa is expected to check-in over 6-5, 284-pounds and like Flowers, Epenesa can dominate from the DDE and 3-technique positions. He understands how to use his incredible length, is sound in his gaps, attacks with power, and is stout against the run. There may not be a better stylistic match between player and scheme in this entire draft than Epenesa and the Lions.

Bradlee Anae, Utah

Suggested by: Matt Urben

Anae played DDE under the Lions coaching tutelage at the Senior Bowl and absolutely dominated. Anae is more in the mold of Okwara, rather than Flowers, as he is capable of rushing from a standing position as well as with his hand in the dirt. He wins primarily with his first-step quickness, and while he will get knocked for his length (31.88″) he understands how to bend his body to maximize leverage. Once he establishes his front hand, he follows it with a variety of pass-rushing moves that keep offensive linemen guessing.

Curtis Weaver, Boise State

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff

Boise State used Weaver all over their defense, rushing him from the EDGE, from the interior, and routinely dropping into coverage, making him a true JACK linebacker. At roughly 265 pounds, he’s not as athletic or explosive as some of the lighter JACK linebackers in this class, but his intelligence, work ethic, and positional versatility will make him very appealing in the right scheme.

Julian Okwara, Notre Dame

Suggested by: Max Gerber, Scott Warheit and Ty Finch

Big things were expected from the brother of Lions EDGE rusher Romeo Okwara in 2019, but Julian had an underwhelming season that was cut short due to a broken leg, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of evaluators. Like his big brother, Julian is long, fast, quick, and athletic. Julian is expected to check-in under 250-pounds, and while he has the frame to add more weight, right now it negatively impacts his ability to set the edge. The lighter weight does allow him to drop into coverage, so depending on the team that selects him, he may need to maintain or gain weight. For the Lions, he would assuredly be a backup in year one with the upside to see significant snaps or start in year two.

Alton Robinson, Syracuse

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt

Like Okwara, Robinson was fantastic in 2018 but took a step back last season. He is a bit of a sleeper who the Lions got a long look at as part of the North squad at the Senior Bowl. Right now, Robinson can both rush the passer and set the edge but both need refinement. Like with Okwara, if the Lions grab Robinson, expect him to be a pass-rushing specialist in year one with the potential to play serious snaps or start in year two.

Giants select Jedrick Wills, Julian Okwara in latest CBS Sports mock draft

The New York Giants select three players and address two major areas of need in the latest three-round CBS Sports mock draft.

The New York Giants have clear needs along both their offensive and defensive lines, which most experts expect the team to address in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Such was the case during a mock draft courtesy of R.J. White from CBS Sports earlier this week, where the Giants went with a familiar offensive tackle in Round 1.

No. 4, Jedrick Wills Jr., OL

A proven commodity at the right tackle position, Wills can lock down that position in his rookie year and potential slide over to left tackle in 2021. He gives the Giants the upgrade they need in protection for their young QB.

Wills has become such a common (perhaps the most common?) mock to the Giants that there’s no sense in rehashing what we’ve already published a seemingly countless number of times. Needless to say, Wills would immediately step in at offensive tackle.

In Round 2, the Giants also go with a familiar face — the brother of one of their former players.

No. 36, Julian Okwara, EDGE

The Giants picked up offensive line help with their first pick, and now they pick up an edge rusher who could be in the mix to go in the first round despite an injury cutting his 2019 season short.

After the NFL Combine and some private workouts, it’s unlikely Okwara slips into Round 2, but crazier things have happened. If the Giants were able to get lucky and land both a starting offensive tackle in the first round and then a potential starting EDGE rusher in the second round, that would be a huge win for general manager Dave Gettleman.

Adding to the fun, White takes a gamble and actually projects the Giants’ third-round compensatory pick, sliding them into spot No. 70 overall.

No. 70, Lamar Jackson, CB

Projected comp pick. The Giants have to focus on upgrading their pass defense, and even if they can sign a quality starter in free agency, Jackson can still help depth at a position with more questions than answers.

Yet another young project cornerback… We’re not sure that’s the best approach for the Giants with all of their other needs, but many draft experts are trending toward the Giants taking both a cornerback and wide receiver over the first few rounds. We’ll see…

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