Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State

Height: 6-foot-1.5 inches

Weight: 204

Jersey: No. 21

Overview

A long and long-limbed outside corner with 8 career INTs and 20 PDs in a defense that relied on him to do many NFL things, Oruwariye earned a Senior Bowl berth. He was 1st team All-Big 10 in 2018 after being on the 2nd team as a junior, even though he did not start a game in 2017 behind a senior-laden tandem.

Games watched: Pittsburgh, Michigan, Michigan State 17 (in person) and 18, Iowa, Ohio State, Kentucky (bowl game), Senior Bowl practices (in person)

Pros

Great technique on the outside. Oruwariye has well-refined use of his hands, both in jamming at the line but also down the field. He’s really good at making intentional contact seem incidental and not severe. His understanding of how to use his size and the sideline to his advantage is the best of any CB in this draft class.

Ball skills. It goes beyond making interceptions, too. He has excellent timing on his closing break and jump. The full technique and ball skills are on display in this clip from the Pitt game:

Route awareness. Oruwariye is seldom fooled on routes or lost in transitions between receivers. He is quick to identify and anticipate what the receiver is trying to do. He’s also smart enough to know the down/distance and play accordingly.

Mirror skills. One of the best traits for any cover man is the ability to stay square to the target and under control while at full gallop. This is another area where Oruwariye is arguably the best in this draft class. It keeps him from being beaten badly on any play and almost always in place to make a play.

Cons

Tackling. It’s rare to see Oruwariye lay a licking on anyone. He’s more of a pile-sniffer than being aggressive in run support.

Lateral agility. His gait is fairly fluid but he does not change direction sharply. He will step in the bucket and occasionally cross himself when asked to make sharp breaks against quicker receivers to the inside.

Blitzing. It’s not something he was asked to do a lot, perhaps because his efforts are almost entirely the same: run as fast as he can into the pickup protection without any real plan of avoiding it.

Overall

There might not be a better cornerback in this draft class in coverage before the ball is in the air, and he’s very good once it’s thrown, too. His length, strength and football IQ are all indicative of a cornerback who can start at outside CB in either a man or zone scheme right away.

Lions fit

Oruwariye would be an instant starter opposite Darius Slay and someone capable of matching up with bigger and more physical receivers. He will remind some of the peak Rashean Mathis time in Detroit. If he’s available in the second round, the Lions would be lucky to get him. He is my No. 1 CB option for the Lions in this draft class.