Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: EDGE Joshua Onujiogu - Pass Rushing Darkhorse?

After getting his feet wet in his NFL debut last season, Joshua Onujiogu will seek to take a big step forward in his second year with the Seattle Seahawks after a standout college career at the Division III level.

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jun 18, 2023 8:30 PM EDT

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities wrapping up league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Joshua Onujiogu, EDGE/Outside Linebacker

Height/Weight: 6-2, 252 pounds

2022 Stats: Three tackles

A rare Division III talent who caught the attention of NFL teams, Onujiogu starred at Framingham State, dominating opposing tackles to the tune of 36.0 sacks over 47 games and winning the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons in 2019 and 2021. This production, along with an impressive pro day workout, put him on the map for the Seahawks, who met with him prior to the 2022 NFL Draft and eventually signed him as an undrafted free agent.

Surfacing as one of the biggest surprises in training camp last August, Onujiogu took advantage of Tyreke Smith and Alton Robinson's injuries to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster. Though he was cut days later and spent most of his first season on the practice squad, he did make his NFL debut in Seattle's loss to Tampa Bay in Munich last October and recorded a trio of tackles in the contest.

Best-Case Scenario: Making the most of his first full NFL offseason, Onujiogu arrives at camp stronger and faster, continuing to make the most of opportunities created by Robinson's prolonged absence from a knee injury with a sack and two tackles for loss in the preseason, earning himself a spot on the initial 53-man roster as a reserve.

Worst-Case Scenario: Though Onujiogu shows improvement on the field compared to his rookie season, the arrival of Derick Hall coupled with healthy returns by Smith and Robinson leave him as the odd man out in a numbers game at the edge position, leading to him being waived and returning to the practice squad.

What to Expect in 2023: Drawing praise from coach Pete Carroll and coordinator Clint Hurtt last summer, Onujiogu exceeded all expectations making the improbable jump from Division III competition to the NFL. With a quick first step and better-than-advertised bend at the top of his rush, he already possesses a few NFL-caliber traits in his tool box and with a few new tricks added to his arsenal, he may be able to surprise again in camp, especially if Robinson isn't able to return to action after knee surgery.

However, even with Robinson's status up in the air, snaps may be difficult to come by for Onujiogu in camp and preseason games with Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, Smith, and Hall all ahead of him on the depth chart. The second-year defender will be squarely on the roster bubble rolling into August and whether he's included on the roster or sent back to the practice squad likely will depend on where he fits into the special teams equation for the Seahawks.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles