There was understandable jubilation within the Okwara family when the Detroit Lions drafted Julian out of Notre Dame a year ago, offering him a chance to play on the same team with his older brother Romeo for the first time in their lives.
But that first year didn't turn as they might have hoped. While Romeo had a breakout season, pacing the Lions with 10.0 sacks, Julian missed much of his rookie campaign because of injury, playing just 69 defensive snaps.
As a free agent this offseason, Romeo re-signed with the Lions, inking a three-year, $37-million pact minutes after the signing period opened.