Amani Oruwariye tabbed as one of the NFL’s most underrated defenders
Detroit Lions fans have a pretty solid idea of how well CB Amani Oruwariye has played, but outside of the NFC North he’s not so well-known. So it’s always nice when a national analyst picks up on Oruwariye’s play and shines some light his way.
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar compiled a list of the most underrated defensive players at each position. It was nice to see Oruwariye listed as one of the cornerbacks on the list. He earned his way with a breakout year last season despite all the injuries and tumult around him.
Farrar notes the dramatic uptick in Oruwariye’s play in 2021 as a reason for his inclusion,
Under new management in 2021, Oruwariye realized his NFL potential with 41 catches allowed on 69 targets for 582 yards, 154 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, six interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 60.2. Only Rasul Douglas, A.J. Terrell, and J.C. Jackson allowed lower passer ratings, and only Jackson and Trevon Diggs had more interceptions.
Oruwariye is poised for another strong season with a reinforced supporting cast surrounding him in Detroit. It’s a contract year for the fourth-year CB, too.
