BREAKING NEWS: Lions LB Julian Okwara Join a New Team.
Last year, the Detroit Lions parted ways with their top two 2020 NFL draft picks. On February 14, they formally bid farewell to one of their 2020 third-round picks, edge rusher Julian Okwara.
The Philadelphia Eagles confirmed Okwara’s signing via their official X (previously Twitter) account.
Okwara was released by the Lions during the postseason but was re-signed to the team’s practice squad the next day. Detroit dismissed Okwara to make room on the roster for fellow edge rusher James Houston, who was returning from injured reserve.
However, after the NFC Championship Game, the Lions did not sign Okwara to a futures contract. After a few weeks of free agency, he has signed with the Eagles.
In the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, the Lions selected Okwara at No. 67 overall. Last year, the Lions traded cornerback Jeff Okudah and running back D’Andre Swift, their first two picks in the draft class.
In the second round, Detroit drafted Okudah third overall and Swift 35th overall.
Okwara’s situation in Detroit has been clear for nearly a month, ever since the organisation removed him from the active roster. Not providing Okwara a futures deal was the final straw, prompting his official exit from the Lions and signing with the Eagles.
Okwara had one decent season with the Lions. However, the last three were very dismal.
The edge rusher missed nine games of his debut season due to a right leg injury. During his rookie season, he recorded no sacks and only three combined tackles in six games.
He rebounded to produce his greatest season in Detroit in 2021. In 13 games, Okwara recorded 5 sacks and 27 total tackles, including 6 tackles for loss.But Okwara never built on that season. Instead, he declined, recording only four sacks in his last 19 games with the Lions.
In 38 games, Okwara had 9 sacks, 54 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits. He also recorded three pass defences, one interception, and one forced fumble.Okwara was one of several underwhelming edge rushers for the Lions in 2023.
Like Okwara, veteran defensive end Charles Harris had a successful 2021 season but failed in 2022. After Harris ended the 2022 season on injured reserve, the team hoped, as it did with Okwara, that he would return in 2023.
That did not happen. Levi Onwuzurike, a Day 2 pick in the 2021 draft, did not develop as expected.
Okwara, Harris, and Onwuzurike combined for 4.5 sacks in 2023.
Okwara has already switched to another team. Harris is due to become a free agency, while SI.com’s All Lions’ Christian Booher described Onwuzurike as a cut candidate.
Even if the Lions decide to maintain Onwuzurike, it would be remarkable if Detroit did not improve their pass-rushing unit.
Combining a top edge rusher with rising star Aidan Hutchinson might give the Lions one of the strongest defensive lines in the NFL.
As a result, the Lions have been linked to veterans Joey Bosa and Haason Reddick in trade rumours this offseason. The Lions have also been linked to Chris Jones, a potential free agency pass rusher.
Many early mock drafts suggest that the Lions will pursue an edge rusher in the first round with the 29th overall pick.