Femi Oladejo 2025 NFL Draft: UCLA EDGE Scouting Report
In a stacked 2025 NFL Draft class, Femi Oladejo is a versatile edge rusher with plenty of upside in the NFL. Oladejo is a talented EGE defender from UCLA who may be a value in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook in this scouting report. We will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Femi Oladejo 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Oladejo emerged as a standout developmental prospect after transitioning from linebacker to EDGE during his senior season at UCLA in 2024. From Elk Grove, California, Oladejo began his collegiate career at Cal, where he showcased tackling prowess and versatility as a stack linebacker, totaling 91 tackles in 2022. After transferring to UCLA in 2023, he initially played off-ball linebacker before a mid-2024 switch to the edge solidified his NFL potential. His final collegiate season saw him lead the Bruins with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, earning the Kenny Clark Award as UCLA’s top defensive lineman.
Furthermore, Oladejo possesses a sturdy, well-proportioned frame at 6’3 and 259 pounds. This offers a blend of density and functional strength suited for the EDGE role. His arm length is solid, though it supports his ability to engage blockers. Additionally, he displays a quick first step and above-average closing burst, particularly evident in pursuit plays. While not a top-tier athlete in terms of raw speed or agility, his physicality and motor compensate, allowing him to play bigger than his listed size.
HT: 6032
WT: 259
40: 4.82
ARM: 3338
Strengths
- Power and Leverage: Oladejo’s low center of gravity and strong lower body enable him to generate natural leverage against offensive linemen. He consistently plays through contact, using heavy hands to jolt blockers and disrupt their balance.
- Run Defense: His linebacker background shines in run support, setting a firm edge and showing good instincts for stacking and shedding blocks. His ability to close gaps and chase down ball carriers from the backside is a standout trait.
- Motor and Effort: Relentless in pursuit, Oladejo rarely takes plays off. His high-energy approach translates to consistent pressure and hustle plays, making him a tone-setter on defense.
- Versatility: Experience at both linebacker and EDGE offers scheme flexibility. He’s comfortable dropping into shallow zones or rushing from multiple alignments, including two- and three-point stances.
- Intangibles: Known for a vibrant personality and leadership presence, Oladejo brings infectious enthusiasm to the field and locker room. His work ethic and adaptability reflect a high football IQ.
Areas for Improvement
- Pass-Rush Toolbox: Oladejo’s pass-rush arsenal remains underdeveloped as a recent convert to EDGE. He relies heavily on power and a basic chop move, lacking advanced hand techniques or counters to win one-on-one matchups consistently.
- Bend and Flexibility: Limited hip fluidity and ankle flexion hinder his ability to turn the corner effectively against tackles with longer reach. His rushes often stall when forced to bend at tight angles.
- Play Recognition: Transitioning from linebacker, he occasionally misreads keys in the run game, leading to over-aggressiveness and missed assignments. His feel for quarterback movement in pass-rush lanes also needs refinement.
- Experience: With only one full season at EDGE, Oladejo’s rawness is apparent. He’ll require time to polish his technique and adapt to the speed and complexity of NFL offenses.
Conclusion
Overall, Oladejo is a high-upside prospect with the physical tools and intangibles to carve out an NFL role. While his rawness caps his immediate impact, his trajectory suggests he could emerge as a steal for a patient coaching staff willing to invest in his growth. Expect a late Day 2 selection, likely in the third round, with a chance to climb higher.
In 2024, Oladejo recorded 57 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and six quarterback hurries across 12 starts. Impressively, showcasing his ability to disrupt plays despite limited experience. His standout performances came against Iowa (two sacks) and in the Senior Bowl practices, where his twitchy first step and physicality caught scouts’ attention. However, his pass-rush win rate against top-tier tackles exposed his technical limitations, often forcing him to rely on secondary efforts rather than initial moves.
Oladejo projects as a developmental EDGE with a ceiling as a pure pass rusher and a floor as a special teams contributor. His ideal landing spot is a 3-4 defense, where he can play rush linebacker, leveraging his power and run-stopping ability while refining his pass-rush skills. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, or San Francisco 49ers—squads known for nurturing raw talent—could maximize his potential. His 300+ special teams snaps in college suggest he’ll earn early reps in coverage units while developing defensively.
Ultimately, a fair comparison is Josh Uche (formerly Chiefs, now Eagles), another linebacker-to-EDGE convert with a similar build and athletic profile. Like Uche, Oladejo’s success will hinge on expanding his pass-rush repertoire and finding a scheme that masks his current limitations. Look for Oladejo to go somewhere near the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FR | FF |
| 2021 | California | 10 | 21 | 17 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | California | 12 | 43 | 48 | 5 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023* | UCLA | 13 | 27 | 27 | 3 | 0.5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | UCLA | 12 | 30 | 27 | 14 | 4.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 47 | 121 | 119 | 25 | 6.0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
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