Arizona Cardinals draft BJ Ojulari in second round of 2023 NFL Draft
The Arizona Cardinals have drafted former LSU EDGE BJ Ojulari in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Ojulari had his most productive season for LSU this past year, posting 56 total tackles, 36 solo, with five sacks and a forced fumble. In 2021, he had 54 tackles with the aforementioned seven sacks. He had a career day against Alabama in 2022, racking up 11 tackles and a sack en route to upsetting the Crimson Tide 32-31 in Baton Rouge.
He finished his three-year collegiate career with 128 tackles and 16.5 sacks.
Ojulari was a true junior, the younger brother of former Georgia star and second-round 2021 NFL Draft pick, Azeez Ojulari. He made an instant impact at LSU, playing well enough in his first two seasons that he was granted the No. 18 jersey on defense.
LSU notes the No. 18 jersey “is given each year to the player who best represents all the outstanding traits of an LSU football player.” Ojulari certainly exemplified many outstanding traits.
He was twice named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, earning those honors in 2020 following a game against South Carolina and again in 2021 after a game against Central Michigan.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about BJ Ojulari
NFL.com‘s Lance Zierlein provided the following analysis of Ojulari, offering current Tennessee Titans LB Harold Landry as a historical comparison to the former LSU star.
“Stand-up rush linebacker with upside as a pass rusher but inconsistent effort stopping the run. Ojulari is bendy as an edge rusher and will wreak substantially more pocket havoc once he builds a more complete rush plan,” Zierlein wrote. “He plays contain as a run defender and has the pursuit speed to spill the run wide or make tackles in space, but needs to play with consistent effort on all run snaps. B.J. Ojulari possesses all the tools necessary to start for an NFL team once he adds a bit more polish to his game.”
According to Zierlein’s sources, one NFL scout said Ojulari was a great person, great teammate and has a chance to be a really good pro.
His strengths include his footwork, he can dip the edge and flatten to the quarterback, uses his quickness to beat tackles and tight ends off the snap and often can be seen noticibly using his best effort on each play, according to the scouting report.