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2016 NFL Draft: Five Sleeper Picks for the 49ers

By Jerod Brown

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) carries the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Romeo Okwara (45) defends during the second half in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) carries the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Romeo Okwara (45) defends during the second half in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Romeo Okwara-EDGE-Notre Dame

College Statistics

Trent Baalke looks for long-limbed players at EDGE. The ability to extend, contact offensive tackles first and bend around the corner immediately puts players on Baalke’s map. If they happen to have tree limbs for arms, all the better.

Okwara fits that bill. He is tall and long-limbed–6’5″ and 35 1/2″ arms–and he led his team in sacks in 2015. He registered nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss as a senior at Notre Dame, playing in 13 games.

Okwara already has the size, both in length and weight, that the 49ers would prefer to line up at outside linebacker across from Aaron Lynch. The team still has Ahmad Brooks under contract and could decide to let him start at outside linebacker while guys like Eli Harold, Tank Carradine and potentially Okwara have an opportunity to develop into full-time starters.

The importance of competition at positions can’t be overstated and the 49ers should openly search for ways that they can build this roster through competition. Okwara would begin to push both Harold and Tank to reach their potential while developing himself.

Okwara will need to spend an entire season developing technique to translate at the NFL-level. He plays high and slow, but both traits could be the result of his incredible rawness.

With a coach that is dedicated to building the skills necessary, Okwara could become an unheralded stud in a defense that allows him to use length and power to become a run-stuffer on the opposite side of Lynch while he attacks the backside of the quarterback. He demonstrates the extension, power and separation that will make a team take a chance on him. In the sixth round, the 49ers should be the team to do so.

Next: Final Choices