Why the Slide?: Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest
By Charlie Campbell, @draftcampbell
Four years ago, we started a series of articles on why certain prospects went undrafted. In that series, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. We got a lot of positive reader feedback about the series, so we decided to expand in the genre to investigate why some prospects slid in the draft. Three years ago, we started the Why the Slide? series, and this year it is back. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
For a lot of the leadup to the 2018 NFL Draft, Wake Forest defensive end Duke Ejiofor was projected by many to be a second-day pick. After recording 4.5 sacks as a sophomore, Ejiofor broke out in 2016 with 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, four passes broken up, forced fumbles and one interception. He wasn’t as good as a senior, but he also saw more blocking attention and teams tried to move plays away from him at times. Ejiofor totaled 43 tackles with 16.5 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass batted for 2017. The 6-foot-4, 264-pounder has a thick build with surprising quickness and athleticism. Thus, it was surprising when he slipped all the way to the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Ejiofor was hurt by not being able to work out leading up to the draft due to his recovery from a torn labrum. Sources say the reason that Ejiofor slipped was because he was inconsistent in college and they didn’t like his motor. They felt that he had the ability to do more, but didn’t always play up to his potential. Those concerns and the injury combined to produce a draft-day slide for Ejiofor.
The Houston Texans ended Ejiofor’s fall in the sixth round. That was a mixed landing spot for him. Houston needed a designated pass-rusher, so Ejiofor could fill that role. He would rotate into the game in obvious passing situations and will see excellent blocking one-on-ones thanks to the presence of Jadeveon Clowney, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus. Houston has a really good front seven to help Ejiofor break out because the Texans have been one of the best drafting teams in the NFL over the past decade. However, Bill O’Brien gets easily frustrated with players and gives up on them quickly. Ejiofor’s motor and consistency could infuriate the temperamental O’Brien. Thus, Ejiofor’s chances of sticking with the Texans could be a roll of the dice.
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