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NFL Draft 2025 player profile: Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA

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NCAA Football: Senior Bowl
Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Oladejo started out as an off-ball linebacker before moving out to edge rusher, which has paid off thus far.

One of my favorite times of the year is writing the NFL Draft Reports. Some of the Seattle Seahawks picks I’ve nailed down in recent years include Byron Murphy II, Christian Haynes, Tyrice Knight, Devon Witherspoon, Zach Charbonnet, Olu Oluwatimi, Boye Mafe, Kenny McIntosh, Abe Lucas, and Riq Woolen.

With the 2025 NFL Draft exactly a week away, we’re continuing to take closer looks at several intriguing prospects, including expected Round 1 picks all the way to Day 3/UDFA options. This scouting report is on UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo, who was previously an inside linebacker before moving to the outside.

Let’s get to the report!

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Prospect Info

Name: Oluwafemi Oladejo

Jersey #: 2

College: UCLA Bruins

Position: EDGE

Awards: – Big Ten Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll member (2024)

– 3-time UCLA Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member (last Fall 2024)

Class: Senior

Style: Power Rusher

Comparison: YaYa Diaby

Projection: 3rd round

Stats

2024: 12 G, 57 Tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4.5 Sack

2023: 13 G, 54 Tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PD

2022: (Cal) 12 G, 91 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 1 FF

2021: (Cal) 9 G, 36 tackles, 2.5 TFL

Combine/Pro Day Results

HT 6’3

WT 259

Arms: 33 3/8’’

Wingspan N/A

Hands 9 3/4’’

40 yds N/A

10 yd split N/A

Short Shuttle: N/A

3 Cone Drill: N/A

VJ 36.5’’

BJ 10’ 0’’

Bench Press 20

RAS: N/A

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Background

Oluwafemi (meaning “God loves me” in Yoruba) Oladejo is the son of Nigerian parents and was one of the great standouts of the UCLA defense. He played inside linebacker at Cal, being the fifth in tackles in the PAC-12 in 2022. After that, he transferred in 2023 and was moved to EDGE in what would be a one-season experiment in Week 2 of 2024. However, he pleased in the new position and this change gave the Bruins the chance to start the best WILL of the 2025 class, Carson Schwesinger. His posture on the field serves as an example for his teammates.

Evaluating the prospect…

Pass Rush

Notice that his exit from the snap is still a little uncoordinated, natural for someone new to the position. However, he hits the chop move at the right time and everything is in sync with his lower body. That’s why I believe in Oladejo’s potential.

Here we have a rep of him at the Senior Bowl (where he stood out a lot) against Marcus Mbow, who was lined up as a center in this 1v1. He hits the Chop move again to prevent contact from the OL and then uses the Rip move to get away once and for all.

Another snap with great synchronization. This time, he uses the Cross-Chop variation, one of his favorite moves. He manages to win the OT but lets the sack slip away.

Another of his favorite sequences. He uses a Hop to take away the timing of the OT, and then the Chop and Rip to prevent contact and get away, just like in the snap already shown above against Mbow.

It doesn’t seem like something too far-fetched, but you need to pay attention to the details of this snap. Oladejo realizes that the OT has left too much space in the interior gap, he threatens to attack the interior gap, the OT hesitates and he hits him with a chop move to go straight to the QB. If there is one thing he could improve on this snap, it is that he could have a better bend. The transition/flexibility to stay in the direction of the QB still needs to improve.

He has natural leverage and good potential to be a speed to power. He almost gets the sack, but rushes the QB.

Run Defense

He had 29 total stops in 2024, which ranked ninth among Big Ten defensive linemen last season.

I’ve seen a lot of reports saying that Oladejo is slow to diagnose the run. I totally disagree with that view. I think he uses his ILB background to identify and attack gaps.

Oladejo recorded one of the lowest missed tackle percentages in this class at 10.5% in 2024.

He finished fourth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (14).

He just doesn’t give up ground against a guy much stronger and bigger than him. He forces the cutback and then fights to the end to help tackle.

This snap shows how strong he is. He simply destroys the entire design of the offense by throwing a guy weighing over 300 lbs on top of the puller.

My favorite snap on tape of Oladejo against the run. He shows several qualities. Strength in controlling and taking down the OT, even showing that he can take care of two gaps. His work forces the RB to cutback. Even with the OT on the ground, he doesn’t rush and is still disciplined in not abandoning his gap. When there is no more chance to cut to his gap, he abandons the position and makes the tackle.

Alignment/Versatility

Active in simulated pressure/creeper calls. This is something that Mike Macdonald really likes to use. He used Boye Mafe in this way at times. Note that he has more defenders on his feet, including a DT to bring maximum confusion to the OL.

Took snaps as a 3-tech, both standing and with his hand on the ground, mainly as part of his spinner role, although he occasionally lined up in that position to defend against the run game, as he did on this incredible snap.

He was occasionally used as a QB-spy, becoming a delayed blitzer, as well as being responsible for combating zone reads. He remains disciplined when facing the threat of the QB running the ball. Shows good change of direction and gets the tackle.

Took snaps on both sides of the formation, but played over 70% of his 2,024 snaps on the left side.

He could perhaps be considered an ILB with average coverage skills. However, his off-ball LB background makes him one of the best EDGEs in coverage. Since Macdonald is very fond of fake pressures and zone blitzes, this is a big difference. He sinks with the TE and when he leaves his zone he takes off to pressure the QB.

Where does he need to improve?

He doesn’t have a clear set of counter-moves when he’s stopped. He tries to win with strength but needs a second move to get away.

Inexperienced pass rusher, as evidenced by a late-career position switch. His favorite moves are the Chop, Cross-Chop, and Bull Rush. The others need refinement, as does this Spin move that doesn’t have the best body control.

Despite his great production this year, he could have achieved more if he didn’t miss a few sack opportunities.

STRENGTHS:

– Size/weight/length for the position.

– Athleticism;

– Versatile alignment;

– Aggressive and determined mentality;

– Excellent work against the run game;

WEAKNESSES:

– Moved to EDGE during the last season only;

– Needs to have a better pass rush plan;

– Counter Moves;

– His aggressiveness can be used against him;

– Missed opportunities to finish some sacks;

Final Thoughts

He is still a player who will need a lot of refinement, having been in the new EDGE position for less than a season. However, he will have just turned 22 when the season starts and even though he is still raw, he shows an arsenal of moves that allow us to project a high ceiling for him.

While developing into a more versatile pass rusher, Oladejo can help combat the run game, where his background as an ILB is very welcome. Additionally, we saw Mike Macdonald use Boye Mafe inside and standing up on some snaps, something Oladejo did at UCLA. He is very versatile, an important characteristic for Seattle’s HC, and in a simulated pressure, zone blitz scheme, he has a better coverage ability than the usual EDGEs, thanks to his time as an ILB.

This is a player I would really like to see in Seattle.

2025 NFL Draft Reports: