Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye was regarded as one of the most “polarizing” prospects in the 2019 NFL draft and, in the end, the underdog corner had to wait a bit longer to find a home.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete was drafted No. 146 overall in the fifth round Saturday by the Detroit Lions. He’ll join a DB room with the likes of Darius Slay, Jalen Tabor and Justin Coleman.
Oruwariye’s pre-draft projection was all over the map, although just about everyone assumed he’d be taken before the fifth round. Pro Football Focus consistently stated he was a first-round talent, with analyst Steve Palazzolo going so far as to compare him to an early-career Aqib Talib, who’s since been to five Pro Bowls.