Two Things Will Keep BJ Ojulari Out Of The First Round

BJ Ojulari will should be selected by an NFL team that has a losing record.

Why?

It’s because this LSU edge rusher is inconsistent and inconsistency doesn’t win in the National Football League.

I expect him to be taken within the first ten picks of the second round. There’s enough there to work with and he is disruptive enough to be a solid value pick.

Despite recently declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, in the eyes of this former NFL Scout, he just does not have what it takes to go in the first-round.

The first thing Ojulari is missing

He’s missing a consistent motor.

Ojulari flashes what it takes, but then he puts it on cruise control.

I need to be excited about a guy to put him in the first-round, and Ojulari doesn’t excite me.

Watching his game film left me feeling blah. It left me feeling somewhat frustrated and having a slight headache.

For the record, there is no question he has raw first-round ability, but his sputtering motor drops his value.

The most dangerous thing about Ojulari is he produces one heck of a highlight tape and he will test well in the off-season stuff and pro day.

It is highly likely some team who is desperate to improve their pass rush will reach for him in the first round, based on those two factors, but that doesn’t make it true.

The second thing Ojulari is missing

There is some noticeable rigidity that shows up in his movements. Whether it caused him to whiff on a tackling attempt or not to be able to adjust quickly enough in the pocket, it’s apparent.

This causes him not to be naturally explosive at the point of attack when rushing the passer. Sure, he’s strong, but strong is different than explosive.

He looks rigid coming off the edge.

What’s the upside

Ojulari causes a good deal of disruption when he feels like it. He flashes good (not elite) speed, hand usage, pass rush moves (spin, fast swim), and an impressive straight-line close to the quarterback.

He has some suddenness and can get under the pad level of offensive tackles. The ability to bend the edge and get through the back door to create pressure is there.

My notes were full of positive pass-rushing reps, and neutral ones too. He is somewhat of a force to be reckoned with.

Ojulari is additionally decent against the run, and he can drop into short-area coverages and provide solid support.

#18 BJ Ojulari 6-foot-3, 250 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would not select him)

Bust Probability: Low

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Projected by 47.9% of the NFL Draft Community as a first-round pick as of December 12, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Mississippi State, Alabama and Georgia (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 56 tackles (36 solo, 20 assists), 1 forced fumble, 5.0 sacks (49 pressures pff.com)

Note: Drop in total from 7.0 in 2021 to 5.0 in 2022

Injury notes: Missed two of the first four games in 2022 (knee injury)

NFL Comparable: Devon Kennard and Bryce Huff

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Slender edge with long arms, good playing speed, technique, and an inconsistent motor. Flips from side to side and stands up and puts his hand down in the dirt occasionally. Saw him line up in a wide 9. Has some quickness and a long stride coming off the edge. Flashes fast first step and burst. Signature pass rush is going outside and pressing the back door. Inconsistent results. Stalls out too much. Good quick hand usage and he has some real polish in terms of moves. Quarterback minded. Has some rigidity. Nice close once he has it lined up. Against the run can fight through blocks occasionally and make wrapping form tackles, or an assist. At other times, takes his foot off the gas. Will settle in as a situational pass rusher. More of a pressure producer than a sack artist.

Final words

I’ve been doing this long enough to not talk myself into a prospect and to trust my instincts. Ojulari does some good things, which makes this more challenging, and it also reflects the high grade. He just mixes in too much of the other stuff that lets some of the air out of this report.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.