Broncos Draft Prospects: DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
We’ve been closely examining options on the defensive line for the Broncos lately, what their defensive line currently looks like, and what players might be a fit.
Today, we’re going to take a look at one of my personal favorite prospects in this year’s draft — UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odghizuwa.
Odighizuwa (Oh-DIGGY-zoo-wuh) played a bit of end, linebacker, tackle, and pretty much whatever the Bruins asked him to do. He’s an incredible athlete with some injury history (hip) that could cause him to fall to the Broncos’ pick, at which point, it would be incredibly tough to pass.
At least, by my evaluations, and you’re free to make your own as well. Let’s take a closer look at this guy.
Measurables
Strengths
When I watched this kid play, there was almost not an instance in which he wasn’t causing problems in the offensive backfield. He racked up 59 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and just six sacks, but he created more problems for opposing quarterbacks that most of the edge players I’ve scouted in recent years.
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The effort he gives is tremendous, and he plays with incredible quickness. His athleticism is obvious on tape, which it isn’t always for guys at his size that come to the Combine and just shred things. His athletic ability, speed, quickness, and power all translate to the field, and he uses them really well.
I recently wrote a scouting report about Odighizuwa for NFLMocks.com. Here’s an excerpt:
“This is a guy that converts speed to power, he has a phenomenal burst off the snap, and he plays with great leverage. You want to see defensive ends learn to play with good pad level, but a player with the length and hand strength of Odighizuwa to play with the type of leverage that he does is a treat to watch.”
Weaknesses
As I said on my other scouting report, he doesn’t have many. The injury history and lack of statistical production are the biggest knocks I have for him, and if he’s going to play more linebacker in the NFL, he doesn’t appear to be the type of guy who is going to excel in coverage or in space.
Odighizuwa is not a traditional edge bender like we have already in Von Miller, but that’s not his game either.
Fit With Broncos
Odighizuwa can play so many different positions in an even or odd man front, that I don’t even quite know where to begin. He could start by playing in tandem with Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe at the defensive end positions, but he could also rotate with DeMarcus Ware as an outside linebacker.
The Broncos could use him on interior blitzes, stunts, and basically just have him create havoc from anywhere on the front seven.
That’s why I think this would be such a great first round pick for the Broncos. Odighizuwa can play so many different positions, that him having a year one impact wouldn’t even be a question. Get him on the field, let him make plays, and reap the benefits.
Prospect Video