Notre Dame Football: Where will Irish prospects land in 2021 NFL Draft?

Ade Ogundeji can be a difficult prospect to read. He has the traits teams look for in defensive ends, but there is concern in regard to his progression to this point. After fighting through injuries at the end of high school and the beginning of his time with the Irish, Ogundeji didn’t function as a consistent contributor for Notre Dame until his senior season.

Even then, it wasn’t until his graduate season that Ogundeji was recognized as anything more than a rotational player. While the presence of Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, and Daelin Hayes didn’t lend itself to much playing time on Ogundeji’s end, teams will hold the lack of consistency against him whether it be a fair assessment or not.

However, this isn’t intended to be a negative assessment. There’s still plenty to like in a prospect like Ogundeji, and a mid to late-round draft pick could end up being an excellent investment for a team that has the time and resources available to dedicate to his growth.

The Falcons need help on the defensive side of the ball but may be tempted to use their first few picks elsewhere in an effort to keep their offense competitive. If so, the Falcons will need to pick smart in the later rounds and Ogundeji presents as a high-upside prospect that could end up being a viable contributor if his growth is properly nurtured.