Finding Browns Fits in the 2023 NFL Draft: B.J. Ojulari, EDGE LSU

When the Cleveland Browns hired Jim Schwartz to be their defensive coordinator, he talked about how important it was for him to create pressure on the opposing quarterback with his defensive line. The Browns need to overhaul their defensive line and while the lion's share of that work will come through free agency, they could also look to invest in the NFL Draft.

Free agency is unlikely to produce a long term answer across from Myles Garrett. And while the Browns have been able to do a decent job of shuffling veterans through the organization including Olivier Vernon and Jadeveon Clowney, being able to find a meaningful solution would provide badly needed stability across from Garrett and would put the Browns in a stronger overall position. That's only like to come through the NFL Draft or a trade.

The 2023 draft class has a number of talented edge rushing threats that could be poised for impactful careers that will sustain over multiple contracts. The Browns may have other priorities they'd prefer to hit, but when the rubber meets the road, they're gonna take the player that offers them the most value. Edge rusher is a premium position and a number of the prospects that could be available to the Browns hit on multiple areas they prize.

One of those is B.J. Ojulari out of LSU, though his actual name is Jamiu Bolaji Ojulari.

Listed Measurables

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 250 lbs

Ojulari possesses a lean build through his trunk with decent upper body strength. He also may have room to continue adding muscle to his legs. It will be interesting to see what he weighs at the NFL Scouting Combine because the lower it is, the better he will need to perform.

Ojulari has excellent explosion off the ball and notable agility and bend. He seems like he should run well, though it will be interesting to see if his explosion shows in his jumps; a raw measure of the ability to move weight.

Like Azeez, B.J. has long arms and will be in a great age range for the Browns as he is not expected to be 21 years old until April.

Production

2022: 35 solo tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one forced fumble in 11 games

2021: 31 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, one pass break up in 13 games

Ojulari's production may not look that great, but relative to the team's output, he more than adequate and he did it against high level competition. His solo tackle numbers are high and indicate his willingness to find the ball and make tackles, some of which comes in pursuit as a run defender. He often ends up functioning like an extra linebacker, which has positive and negative consequences.

Ojulari is fearless with his body and will throw it around in an effort to make sure he's in his prescribed spot. He isn't overpowering and he does need to improve his overall strength, but he's hardly a pushover.

That's in no small part to Ojulari's ability to use his arms to keep opponents out of his body. He's willing to dent or take on a puller when called upon and has the ability to slip into the backfield to cause disruption if not make a tackle. Ojulari brings everything he has when he attacks the line of scrimmage which also helps to mitigate a lack of strength.

Undoubtedly, there are times when Ojulari gets stalled and moved off of his spot, which can limit his impact against the run. Nevertheless, he often is able to keep himself alive and his play speed ends makes offensive linemen uncomfortable, causing them to worry about stopping him, preventing them from teeing off on him.

Ojulari's play speed and hands are a major reason he's such an impactful pass rusher. He's able to run the arc or attack inside. Ojulari possesses enough strength in his upper body to jolt opponents and occasionally walk them back in the pocket. A quick swim move and the ability to get skinny enables him to generate quick pressure. He's got a good rip move, he's flashes the ability to parry opponents trying to get into his body and he occasionally mixes in a spin move. His raw speed makes it so he's almost never out of a play and can create pressure against the most athletic passers.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is arguably the best prospect at his position in this class. The only real negative is his lack of size. LSU was his worst game of the season because they were able to put consistent pressure on him. PFF credited Ojulari with eight pressures and a sack in the contest, including a pressure on Young that led to an interception in LSU's end zone. Ojulari also generated seven pressures against Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Ojulari needs to get stronger, especially in his trunk. Additionally, he needs to work on creating turnovers. More strength should help, but he needs to prioritize attacking the ball when he gets to the quarterback.

Why the Browns Could Like Him

Ojulari is a gifted pass rusher with speed. The Browns previously liked his brother, Azeez, who was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

The Browns don't need Ojulari to come in and play the run as a rookie. They have players like Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas. They will likely add another veteran in free agency. Ojulari would be brought in with a focus on attacking the quarterback.

They can freely play him from a two-point stance in space, which is where he has thrived. Ojulari can stunt and has shown the ability to start on one side of the formation and generate pressure on the other side. He has the speed to cause problems for quarterbacks who want to create with their legs and his relentless effort can help eliminate plays from extending for too long.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz may not be inclined to blitz all that much, favoring a four man rush. However, if he's interested in changing up which four he sends to confuse the offense, Ojulari does have experience dropping into zone coverage. They could drop Ojulari and have Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah blitz as an example.

Ojuarli starts out as a designated pass rusher and hopefully evolves into a full service player in the next few seasons. Specifically for Jim Schwartz's scheme, he wants defensive linemen who can defeat blocks and find their way to the football. Ojulari has shown he's adept at this both attacking from the outside as well as knifing inside.

The Bottom Line

If the Browns are looking to immediately upgrade their pass rush, B.J. Ojulari is a smart, player that understands technique, has a plan and has the physical tools to disrupt opposing offenses and get to the quarterback.