Penn State Football edge rusher Jayson Oweh’s stock is surging ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, as scouts and executives see far more upside in his athleticism than concern over his lack of production last season.
“You can’t keep players with Oweh’s level of freakish tools away from the quarterback,” Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner writes. “He’s only scratching the surface.”
Oweh, 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, produced 38 total tackles as a redshirt sophomore last season, along with one pass breakup.
What didn’t always show up on the stat-sheet was Oweh’s exceptionally high-motor and speed that elite pass rushers seem to possess.
In addition to being explosive off the edge when getting after the quarterback, Oweh is as stout as they come against the run, garnering an 89.8 run-stopping grade from Pro Football Focus last season.
PFF credits Oweh with a pass-rush win rate or 18.4, and an 80.3 pass-rush grade, which would make him a welcomed addition to most front-sevens in the NFL.
As the NFL Draft rapidly approaches and teams begin building their boards, here’s a look at three of Oweh’s best fits:
3) Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders will likely target an edge defender when they go on the clock with the No. 17 overall pick, and if Mike Mayock is indeed shopping for pass-rush help, Oweh’s potential could be tough to ignore.
Vegas chose Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but injuries have dogged him through his first two seasons, limiting the former Clemson Tiger to just 6.5 career sacks with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby has excedded expectations opposite Ferrell at defensive end, producing seven sacks last season.
The Raiders need to do something about their meager pass rush, which produced just 21 sacks and 147 pressures last season. There is a good chance that Oweh will be available, and if Mayock pulls the trigger on selecting a pass rusher in the first-round for the second time in three years, the Penn State product might get the chance to wreak some havoc based on all the attention Ferrell demands of opposing offensive lines.