Steelers Scouting Report: Notre Dame EDGE Julian Okwara

Notre Dame pass rusher Julian Okwara is a name the Steelers could very well be interested in with the 49th overall pick. Here’s my scouting report and his fit in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers were able to retain Bud Dupree for the 2020 season under the franchise tag. But make no mistake: Pittsburgh is still in the market for an edge defender.

Even if Dupree comes to a long-term agreement with the team, the depth outside of Dupree and T.J. Watt is questionable at best with just Ola Adeniyi and Tuzar Skipper on the roster. If they are to land a player like Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara in the 2020 NFL Draft, then they may have an answer as to who will be playing across from Watt for the foreseeable future.

Okwara is a name to keep a close eye on as we draw near to the draft. Here is my scouting report on the Notre Dame pass rusher and how he fits in Pittsburgh:

EDGE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame

Strengths:

• Prototype body for an edge defender: 6’4”, 252 pounds, 34 3/8” arms
• Long and athletic with terrific bend for his size
• Good speed in pursuit, puts athleticism on display
• Supreme arm length, already beginning to use arms to his advantage
• Not overly productive, but flashes signs of dominance on tape
• Frame to add additional weight and strength
• High upside player based on size and athletic traits
• Good closing speed
• Plays from a two-point stance, capable of dropping into coverage

Weaknesses:

• Very modest college production, just 12.5 tackles for a loss in best season
• Plays upright too often, needs to maintain leverage
• Often takes himself out of run plays
• Can be bullied by stronger offensive linemen
• Often in the backfield, but needs to be a finisher
• Needs to develop more counters
• Good speed and dip, but below-average strength for position

Julian Okwara’s fit in Pittsburgh:

For the Steelers, Okwara would not be forced to contribute right away. He would compete with Adeniyi and Skipper for the primary backup spot at outside linebacker. Okwara could serve an ‘Anthony Chickillo’-type role in year one before taking on much more snaps (and possibly a starting role) in 2020.

Okwara has the speed and bend that make him a solid projection to be Bud Dupree’s replacement as a right-side edge defender across from T.J. Watt. His floor is a quality backup for the Steelers, but with his tools, length, and athleticism, he has Pro Bowl upside if all goes well.

Pro Comparison: Eli Harold

Eli Harold was a more productive player coming out of Virginia in 2015. He registered 29.5 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks over his last two seasons combined. However, it’s not hard to draw comparisons between these two.

Both Okwara and Harold are long pass rushers who win with their speed and dip rather than power. In the NFL, Harold is still trying to find his way as a pass rusher after earning just 9.0 sacks in his first four seasons. Okwara will possess a similar skill set in the NFL, but hope for better results early on.

Game film:

Okwara’s rare combination of length and athleticism for the position make his chances of being available at pick 49 a toss-up. However, he is a player that Pittsburgh will undoubtedly have interest in if he’s still on the board. Good pass rushers are hard to come by, and Okwara has all the traits that make him an ideal fit for their defense.