Breaking down everything you need to know about Patriots sixth round pick Michael Onwenu.
Michael Onwenu, OL: Sixth round, 182nd overall
Height: 6-3
Weight: 344
College: Michigan
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Strengths: Tremendous size and strength to overwhelm opponents in tight. … Plays both right and left guard. … Shows requisite mean streak. … Shows good balance. … Does not get pull rushed in pass protection. … Effectively redirects rushers with strong hands. … Durable and experienced having played 37 of 39 games (with 35 starts) over his final three seasons.
Weaknesses: Quickness can be an issue. … Not overly athletic for position. … Footwork can get sloppy at times. … Can overextend when reaching. … Could struggle against twists and stunts up front due to his slow feet. … Weight was an issue at Michigan but his coaches felt his work ethic improved during his career. … Struggles moving and getting to second level. … Best-suited for power-based schemes as a result.
Personal: Enrolled in Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in African-American studies. … Also minored in entrepreneurship in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. … All-Big Ten third team in 2018 and 2019 … Started 35 of 46 games played while also contributing on special teams. … Participated in 2016 U.S. Army All-American Game. … Attended Cass Technical (Detroit) High School, where he was named 2015 City Baller of the Year and Division I-II AP all-state first team. … High school teammates with fellow Wolverines Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill and David Dawson. … Twitter handle is @_MXKEY.
Comparable NFL player: Brandon Brooks, G, Eagles – Another big boy at 346 pounds, Brooks has carved on an eight-year career with Houston and Philadelphia.
Workout Numbers
| Onwenu | Combine Avg. for Pos. | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6-3 | 6-4 |
| Weight | 344 | 318 |
| 40 Yards | DNP | 5.18 |
| Bench (225) | 26 | 21 |
| Vertical Jump | DNP | 26.8 |
| Long Jump | DNP | 108 |
| Shuttle | DNP | 4.81 |
| Cone | DNP | 7.98 |
DNP - Did not participate in drill.
What They're Saying
"Onwenu is a road-grader in the run game. The Patriots starting unit is rock-solid on the interior, but it needed some depth. He could learn from one of the game's best run-blockers in Shaq Mason. - NFL.com's Mark Dulgerian
