The Saints moved up in the fourth round to pick up defensive end David Onyemata from the University of Manitoba. Let’s look further into what this guy can bring to the table.
THE GOOD: Can Get At the QB
One of the big positives for Sheldon Rankins was that he has the ability to get at the QB as a defensive tackle. The same can be said for Onyemata if you take one look at his highlight reel from his time with the Bisons. He has exactly what you want in terms of a D-Lineman in that he’s a big and violent guy, but in the same breath he has the speed that you don’t normally expect out of a guy that’s around 300 pounds.
THE BAD: The Transition
Onyemata will have to deal with a transition period before even being on the field for a meaningful down. Because of his experience in Canada, it will take him some time to learn the fundamentals of the position while at the same time adjusting to the speed and strength of the pro game. He will be a pet project for Dennis Allen during training camp. The bright side with this is that Allen’s system is fairly simple so it shouldn’t take him long to learn the playbook.
THE UGLY: Very Green
As a native of Nigeria, Onyemata didn’t know what football was until 2010. So with only a few years experience this is another situation where the Saints will need to be aware of. Add the fact that he is very raw could be something that the Saints who want to win right now, they gambled on a guy many people had being picked up as an undrafted free agent.
THE VERDICT: Thumbs Down
I watched his highlight reel and loved what I saw. The guy has a ton of potential to be a breakout player, but at the cost of a 5th round pick this year and next year, to me it’s not worth it having to transition someone with little experience in football. But the Saints have had recent success of finding gems in Canada (see Delvin Breaux).