Report: Saints schedule meeting with Notre Dame pass rusher Adetokunbo Ogundeji

One 2021 draft prospect who helped his case at this year’s Senior Bowl was Adetokunbo Ogundeji, a defensive end out of Notre Dame who impressed in practices leading up to the annual all-star game. The Spun’s Chris Rosvoglou reports that Ogundeji has scheduled a virtual meeting with the New Orleans Saints. The Draft Network’s Justin Melo adds that, for now, this is Ogundeji’s only follow-up interview after contacting all 32 teams at the Senior Bowl in January.

Ogundeji was an early star at Senior Bowl weigh-ins, where he measured in at 6-foot-4 and 256 pounds with 35 1/4-inch arms, nailing the physical prototype the Saints have shown a liking for in their defensive ends. Much like Marcus Davenport and Trey Hendrickson, he could continue to add on muscle at the next level.

He improved each year he played at Notre Dame, finishing his college career with 71 tackles (38 solo, 15 tackles for loss) and 10.5 sacks in 30 games played. Ogundeji is considered a viable second-day prospect in rounds two or three.

And it makes sense for New Orleans to put him on their radar. They could lose their sacks leader in free agency, where Hendrickson should command plenty of interest despite his status as a one-year wonder. Davenport is flirting with the draft bust label after three inconsistent, injury-plagued seasons to start his career.

That leaves annual Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan and ascendant reserve Carl Granderson (who Pro Football Focus credited with 19 pressures, including 5 sacks, in 2020) as the only players the Saints can really hang their hat on at defensive end, which isn’t good enough.