Kiper Mock 4.0 - Bills take Okwara at 54

[YoloinOhio]

Kiper gave the Bills pass rushing edge Julian Okwara from Notre Dame and here’s his explanation for the decision:

“Okwara, who broke his leg in November and didn’t work out at the combine, has some versatility as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense or an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He’d be an end in Buffalo. The Bills added veteran Mario Addison to take over for Shaq Lawson, who left in free agency, but there are plenty of reps in the rotation for Okwara,” Kiper wrote.

Okwara finished his career at Notre Dame with 14.5 sacks in four seasons. His best year came in 2018 when he posted eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss in 12 starts.

Edge rusher is a popular position in mock drafts across the Internet for the Bills at No. 54. Another top option at this spot is Alabama’s Terrell Lewis, who is still on the board when Buffalo makes its pick

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2020/04/nfl-draft-2020-espns-mel-kiper-gives-buffalo-bills-pass-rusher-in-mock-draft-40.html

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I think the Bills trade up for an edge rusher that falls.

[CEN-CAL17]

I would think this would be hard to pass on. Okwara is a pass rusher. At 6’4” 255 lbs almost 35” arms with high athletic ability. 
 

I would love this pick!!!!

[Fixxxer]

looks nasty on his highlight video. Tall and explosive, had an int in coverage 10 yards from the LOS. Impressive.

[billsfan89]

Would love this pick, more investment along the trenches and getting younger at a position group that has 3 players above 30 in it. 

[GunnerBill]

It is a bit higher than I have him graded, but I wouldn't hate it depending on what else was left on the board.

[glazeduck]

I won't at all be surprised if he's taken before we're on the clock. Pass rushers are one of the league's hottest commodities and this draft is very weak there... Anybody with any type of potential (see: Okwara) should see their stock rise because of it...

[Virgil]

I’m sorry, but I don’t trust any player from Notre Dame

[Buffalo Junction]

7 minutes ago, Virgil said:

I’m sorry, but I don’t trust any player from Notre Dame

I trust OL from Notre Dame. 

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo Junction said:

I trust OL from Notre Dame. 

And TE

[Blokestradamus]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

And TE

 

Ben Koyack <3

[Buffalo Junction]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

And TE

True. One could probably build a really good offensive foundation by just drafting OL and TEs from Notre Dame and Iowa. ?

[Lurker]

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I think the Bills trade up for an edge rusher that falls.

 

Epenesa?    He seems like he's falling over the past month...

[hjnick]

21 minutes ago, Virgil said:

I’m sorry, but I don’t trust any player from Notre Dame

That's how I feel about Texas players.

[1st Ammendment NoMas]

3 minutes ago, hjnick said:

That's how I feel about Texas players.

 

Or Ohio State QB's.

[Lurker]

Dane Brugler of The Athletic gave Okwara  a third / fourth round grade.    Go figure...

 

 

STRENGTHS:   Explosive upfield speed…nimble bender with twitchy muscles to work tight spaces…athletic cornering skills to skim the outside shoulder of the blocker, flattening his path to the quarterback…uses the energy in his hands to convert speed to power…experienced dropping at the snap and covering space…outstanding play range, hitting his top speed quickly and chasing down plays…sees things quickly as an off-ball defender…shows a knack for finding the football mid-tackle to force fumbles…moldable body type with the length to gain ground…earned captain status as a senior and showed improved leadership in 2019. 
 
WEAKNESSES:   Pass rush arsenal lacks savvy…unrefined handwork and doesn’t consistently go anywhere when he unleashes them…relies more on motor, not instincts, and needs better efficiency with his rush sequence…below average run defender and needs to set a harder edge…not a steady point-of-attack player and spends too much time attached to blocks…outstanding athlete, but struggles to finish in space and plays too hot, leading to missed tackles…gives tremendous effort one play and then spotty effort the next…still has growing up to do, according to scouts…missed the second half of his senior year with a fractured left fibula (November 2019), requiring surgery. 
 
SUMMARY:   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.  
 
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round 

[BillsFan17]

2 minutes ago, Lurker said:

Dane Brugler of The Athletic gave Okwara  a third / fourth round grade.    Go figure...

 

 

STRENGTHS:   Explosive upfield speed…nimble bender with twitchy muscles to work tight spaces…athletic cornering skills to skim the outside shoulder of the blocker, flattening his path to the quarterback…uses the energy in his hands to convert speed to power…experienced dropping at the snap and covering space…outstanding play range, hitting his top speed quickly and chasing down plays…sees things quickly as an off-ball defender…shows a knack for finding the football mid-tackle to force fumbles…moldable body type with the length to gain ground…earned captain status as a senior and showed improved leadership in 2019. 
 
WEAKNESSES:   Pass rush arsenal lacks savvy…unrefined handwork and doesn’t consistently go anywhere when he unleashes them…relies more on motor, not instincts, and needs better efficiency with his rush sequence…below average run defender and needs to set a harder edge…not a steady point-of-attack player and spends too much time attached to blocks…outstanding athlete, but struggles to finish in space and plays too hot, leading to missed tackles…gives tremendous effort one play and then spotty effort the next…still has growing up to do, according to scouts…missed the second half of his senior year with a fractured left fibula (November 2019), requiring surgery. 
 
SUMMARY:   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.  
 
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round 

I would agree with this wholeheartedly 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

27 minutes ago, Lurker said:

 

Epenesa?    He seems like he's falling over the past month...

A couple seem to falling. Yes he would be 1.

[GunnerBill]

18 minutes ago, BillsFan17 said:

I would agree with this wholeheartedly 

 

Me too. Mid / late 3rd on my board. 

[Jerboski]

Would love okwara, when healthy he is a speed rushing nightmare. His havoc rate was right there with young before his injury. 

 

Okwara, dobbins, pittman, diggs or Taylor