Julian Okwara picked by Lions, joins brother Romeo

They took practically similar paths from Nigeria to The us, but Julian and Romeo Okwara ended up hardly ever equipped to perform collectively. Not in substantial college or higher education. But now, at the highest amount of the sport, the two defensive linemen will be equipped to contact 1 an additional teammates for the very first time.

The Lions produced that a truth on Friday evening in the 2020 NFL Draft, by deciding on Julian in the 3rd spherical (67th in general) out of Notre Dame, reuniting him with Romeo.

“We about to be roommates, bro,” Julian told Romeo in a movie posted by Roc Nation Athletics following having off the phone with the Lions.

The Nigerian natives each attended Ardrey Kell Significant College (N.C.) and Notre Dame. Romeo went undrafted in advance of signing with the Giants and then having picked up by the Lions in 2018. He appeared in 24 games final calendar year, building 28 tackles and notching 1.five sacks. Julian was a greater higher education prospect, manufacturing 13 sacks the past two several years.

“He was psyched, much too,” Julian, 22, reported of the 24-calendar year-aged Romeo, in a convention contact with Lions reporters. “Looking forward to getting in the same city. Me discovering by way of him, with him. I’m psyched for that.”

The Okwaras will be the fourth pair of brothers that are at this time teammates, signing up for Jason and Devin McCourty with the Patriots, Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin with the Seahawks, and Trey and Terrell Edmunds with the Steelers.