2020 NFL Draft: Albert Okwuegbunam in position for big season
Albert Okwuegbunam decided against declaring for the 2019 draft and that could work in his favour as he prepares for his junior year.
The 2019 NFL Draft boasted one of the best tight end classes in recent memory but was absent a player seen as one of the best in college football at that position in Albert Okwuegbunam.
Okwuegbunam decided against declaring for this year’s draft and that decision could soon be vindicated, with the situation at Missouri ripe for him to enjoy a huge junior year.
The 6’5″ and 255-pound Okwuegbunam was hampered by a shoulder injury towards the back end of last year and his touchdown production from 2017 dipped. He had more yards in 2018, tallying 466 after putting up 415 a year earlier, but scored on five fewer occasions after an 11-touchdown freshman year.
He was limited in spring practice but is expected to be healthy in 2019, a season in which Missouri will not be able to play in a bowl game after being hit with a postseason ban for academic misconduct, but one that could see Okwuegbunam secure his status as a first-round prospect.
To do that Okwuegbunam, described as a ‘bona fide star’ by The Athletic’s David Ubben, will have to build a rapport with Kelly Bryant, who transferred from Clemson. He will be the starter and may prove an upgrade on Drew Lock, a second-round pick by the Broncos.
Lock has a bigger arm than Bryant but completed just 56.9 percent of his passes with Missouri. Bryant has been more accurate and more efficient in his college career, completing 66.2 percent of his throws.
That should make Okwuegbunam’s life easier as should Bryant’s ability with his legs. If Bryant can keep the defense honest with his threat to run, then Missouri will have greater scope for the play fakes and option looks that can help Okwuegbunam gain more space to operate over the middle of the field.
In this year’s draft Okwuegbunam would have been competed with Iowa pair T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant along with Irv Smith Jr. His path to being a first-round pick in 2020 is much easier.
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Set to be healthy and with a more consistent and more mobile quarterback throwing him the ball, everything is set up for Okwuegbunam to enjoy a huge junior year and significantly boost his stock for the 2020 draft.