The Detroit Lions have selected cornerback Amani Oruwariye with their fifth-round pick. Oruwariye, a projected second-round pick, experienced a draft slide all the way down to the fifth round.
The Penn State cornerback excels in press coverage and has been a leader of the Nittany Lions’ defense for the last couple of seasons. He finished his four-year career with eight interceptions and 20 passes defended.
Oruwariye (a Full QIB qualifier) models his game after none other than Darius Slay and possesses all of the physical skills to be a starting cornerback with a 4.47 40-yard dash and elite numbers in his broad and vertical jump. He plays the ball well and uses his physicality to his advantage to win against receivers.
I don’t know how Oruwariye fell this far in the draft, but the Lions found themselves their cornerback of the future opposite of Darius Slay.
Oruwariye will likely start the season behind Slay and Rashaan Melvin, but don’t be surprised if he finds his way into the starting rotation by the end of the year.
Overall, I’d call this the best pick the Lions have made thus far. Oruwariye possesses every characteristic that an NFL team would look for in a cornerback. He will complement Slay well with his ability to play zone and press coverage, which is something the Lions desperately need in a cornerback.
Grade: A+
