Getty Julian Okwara after a Notre Dame game.
The Detroit Lions have been criticized in the past for not adding enough pass rush, but in the 2020 NFL Draft, they might have added one of the true rising stars that nobody was expecting in Julian Okwara.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Okwara had some questions coming into the draft, but the Lions could offer perhaps the best answer for him becoming one of the truthfully elite players in the league on defense. The reason has everything to do with his brother Romeo Okwara, who is already on the roster in Detroit.
While attention focused elsewhere in the NFC North, the #Lions quietly addressed some key needs in the draft: offensive playmakers, big men and a talented pass rusher with a chance to blossom alongside his brother. @nflnetwork
“Okwara is a guy who when I talked to scouts coming into the draft, some thought would actually go in the first round. He can really bend off the edge, a very talented rush threat,” he said. “There were a lot of questions for him in terms of how much does he love the game, the commitment. He had a ton of interviews, Teams dug into him.”
As it relates to that, the Lions might have the right code as it relates to cracking Okwara, and it’s in the form of his brother.
“Those two are really really close. Romeo is sort of Julian’s mentor. The fact that he will be back with his brother here could help Julian break out in 2020,” Pelissero admitted.
This could mean the perfect situation exists for Okwara to break out in Detroit. That’s just what the Lions could use given their need for pass rush depth up front and a new star on the roster at the position.
Julian Okwara Called Major Draft Steal
Detroit might have been able to steal multiple players along the way as they set out to craft their roster in the draft. Pro Football Focus took a look at naming the biggest steals in the entire draft, and the site credited the Lions with finding a pair this year, more than any other team in the NFL at this point.
The first steal they identified was Julian Okwara, an edge rusher that PFF was extremely high on as the No. 28 overall player on their board Detroit got at pick 63. Here’s what Anthony Treash wrote:
“Although he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 11 this past year, there’s no reason Okwara should have been available in the third round. With his explosiveness off the line, overall athleticism and long arms, Okwara was a first-round talent in this draft. Prior to getting hurt, Okwara was having one of the top seasons in college football at his position by owning an elite 90.4 pass-rush grade.”
Obviously, the Lions hope that Okwara can infuse some much needed pass rush talent on their team. If they end up getting better in the years ahead as a result of Okwara, it will only merely prove having his brother on the roster was a true plus.
Julian Okwara Stats
Brothers are now teamed up in this scenario, as the Lions currently have Romeo Okwara on their roster to rush the passer up front. Julian is no slouch, however, and will give the Lions some immediate pass rush punch off the edge. The team figures to be in the market for edge players this offseason, but Okwara’s length and ability to disrupt could prove huge, as could the possible comfy fit with the Lions.
During his time with Notre Dame prior to injury, Okwara was very productive for the team. 79 tackles, 15.5 career sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions show a player who can do a lot to blow up a game and disrupt. That’s just what the Lions have needed in a big way.
Those facts could prove him a major steal in the end, and that might only be more true when considering the situation he will be entering in Detroit.
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