Notre Dame NFL Draft Mock Watch: Okwara to the Rams in Round 1

In the most recent NFL Mock Draft by a major outlet, the Notre Dame defensive end is projected to be drafted in the first round yet again.

In what is becoming a recurring theme as far as 2020 NFL mock drafts go, a Notre Dame defensive end is projected to be taken in the first round by a major outlet.

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards released the network’s most recent 2020 NFL Mock Draft earlier today. He had Notre Dame defensive end Julian Okwara going No. 29 overall to the Los Angeles Rams.

In theory, that would be a terrific landing spot for Okwara. He’d be playing on a defensive line with Aaron Donald, the best interior lineman in the game — who is also still in his prime. Okwara’s speed paired with the penetration Donald provides would make for a tricky scenario for offensive lines to defend against.

In reality, however, we’re still nearly seven months from the 2020 NFL Draft, and there’s no telling how the draft order will shape up between now and then.

Additionally, aside from potential, Julian Okwara has yet to put up the kind of numbers in 2019 that you’d expect from a pass-rushing specialist that many project to be drafted in the first round. The 6’4″, 248-pound senior has yet to register a sack this season after getting to the quarterback eight times in 2018. He also only has a total of three tackles.

We’ll assume that all changes between now and the end of the season, but there’s no arguing the point that Okwara has a lot of ground to make up if he wants to keep his name appearing in the first round of most major mock drafts.

And forget personal reasons — the Notre Dame football team needs Okwara to play like a first-round edge rusher if they want to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation through the end of November.