Arizona Cardinals: Making Case for Owamagbe Odighizuwa

The 2015 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the Arizona Cardinals find themselves in a very interesting position.

After a 9-1 start to last season, the Cardinals appeared to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Massive amounts of injuries took the sails out of the Cardinals’ run last year, but after a successful off season up until this point, they are set up to be major contenders once again in 2015.

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Much of the Cardinals’ success this season will depend on their ability to stay healthy. The most important story of the off season is the health of quarterback Carson Palmer. With a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, if Palmer’s return from reconstructive knee surgery goes well, the Cardinals will be in a great position to compete.

While the Cardinals possess a very talented roster, they certainly have key needs at positions. The loss of Antonio Cromartie in free agency makes cornerback a position worth addressing, and finding a running back who is at least capable of sharing the carries with Andre Ellington is a must.

While cornerback and running back need addressed, on the surface, the Cardinals’ need for a pass rusher is bigger than any other position.

Last season, the Cardinals had the ninth fewest sacks in the league with only 35 on the year. Sam Acho led the team with eight sacks on the season, and is a solid option for the Cardinals at one outside linebacker position in their 3-4 defense.

Free agent addition LaMarr Woodley has had success as a pass rusher in the past, but his better days are behind him. Woodley was a solid low-risk signing for the Cardinals, but expecting him to be a pass rushing force would be a mistake.

With the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Cardinals will certainly be considering a pass rusher. Unfortunately, where they pick is not exactly a sweet spot for the position.

Sep 28, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) is pressured by Oakland Raiders defensive end Lamarr Woodley (38) in the NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This draft class is loaded with talented pass rushers at the top, but depth at the position is limited. Some recent mock draft have the Cardinals selecting Eli Harold at 24. Harold is a solid player who has a very high motor, but his upside is limited.

If they decide to take a pass rush prospect in the first round, I think the Cardinals would be better off targeting Owamagbe Odighizuwa.

On top of having an incredibly difficult name to spell and pronounce, Odighizuwa appears to have major upside as a pass rusher at the next level.

At 6-foot-3, 267 pounds, Odighizuwa has nice size for the position. He has great length, power and natural athleticism on the outside. Odighizuwa shows a great burst off of the line of scrimmage, and has an impressive array of speed and power moves.

On the stat sheet, Odighizuwa was an underwhelming performer in college. He totaled only 12.5 sacks throughout his four-year college career. That total is incredibly low for a player who is expected to attack the quarterback at the next level.

Jan 21, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa of UCLA (54) runs through defense drills during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

However, the low sack totals were not really his fault. In UCLA’s base 3-4 defense, Odighizuwa was primarily used as a down defensive lineman. His main responsibility was to set the edge, and defend the run. It was very rare for Odighizuwa to be released on the pass rush.

There were times where UCLA lined him up as a stand-up rush linebacker, and Odighizuwa always seemed to make an impact. While these situations were few and far between, he showed a lot of upside.

Physically, Odighizuwa is ready for the next level. He has plenty of size, strength and athleticism to make an immediate impact. However, considering he is expected to make a position change, some growing pains can be expected.

Adding an impact outside pass rusher is the biggest potential area of improvement for Arizona. While he is a little bit raw, Odighizuwa has the talent to single-handily fill their largest need.

Next: 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Surprising Selection for Arizona Cardinals

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