Dallas Cowboys 2021 NFL draft positional series: Pass rushers

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum lies a late riser that goes by the name of Jayson Oweh from Penn State University.

On paper, Oweh looked to be a middle-of-the-pack defensive end but his Pro Day showed a player that has elite athletic tools. The six-foot-five 257-pound defensive end ran an eye-popping 4.36 forty-yard dash.

That kind of size and speed combinations are exactly what I look for when taking chances in the draft although it cannot be the single factor when selecting players. I learned this lesson long ago back in 1995 from a division rival.

When I was younger, I was all over the Mike Mamula hype train as my interest in the NFL draft was on the brink of obsession. Like Oweh, Mamula wowed scouts which eventually led to him being selected with the seventh overall selection.

Philadelphia traded their first-round pick, 12th overall, and two second-round picks to Tampa Bay for the right to take Mamula seventh overall. Tampa selected Hall of Famers Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks with those picks while Mamula is now a cautionary tale.

I have Oweh graded as a top day two selection but mainly has to do with his Pro Day numbers. His film graded out to me as a third-round guy.

Oweh reminds me of Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter who is probably the most under the radar superstar in the entire NFL. Like Oweh, Hunter didn’t have a productive final season in college. Hunter ended his final collegiate season with 1.5 sacks while Oweh didn’t have any this past season.

Oweh the player is going to take some time to develop but he could be a role player in year one if a team can get him to refine some of his pass rush moves. There are times when Oweh puts it all together and flashes brilliance. There are also times where he gets lost in the shuffle.