2024 NFL Draft: Kitan Oladapo Scouting Report

After spending the past six seasons at Oregon State, safety Kitan Oladapo is taking his game to the next level in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Oregon native is coming off his best season, recording 74 tackles, two interceptions, and an 88.3 PFF grade while allowing just 21 receptions for 212 yards on 36 targets.

Oladapo first joined the college football ranks in 2018 but didn’t record an official statistic until the 2020 season. Playing in six games, the redshirt sophomore recorded 26 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and two sacks. He maintained the starting job in each of the next three seasons, slowly but surely establishing himself as one of the best safeties in the nation.

Strengths

Big, bruising safety who can deliver strong hits in the run game;

Physical player who won’t get bulldozed by linemen or larger backs;

Takes efficient angles to the ball-carrier;

Has the size to match up against tight ends in coverage;

Above-average potential as a blitzer;

Defensive leader – named team captain and was responsible for getting the secondary lined up before the snap.

Weaknesses

Definitely a run-first player – subpar ball instincts and recognition in coverage;

Lacks the speed to be a deep safety – needs to stay in the box;

Won’t be able to cover receivers in the slot – lacks required quickness;

Not as good of a tackler as you’d expect – needs to learn how to wrap up better;

Fairly limited player who will only thrive in a specific role.

NFL Comparison: Donte Whitner

Projection: Rounds 4-5

Bottom Line on Kitan Oladapo In the 2024 NFL Draft

Kitan Oladapo enters the 2024 NFL Draft as a player who could have a long career if he lands in the right environment. While it’s easy to focus on what he can’t do, there are quite a few things he can do at a high level. Old-school football fans will love his ferocious, hard-hitting style of play, as the Oregon State product is one of the best enforcers in the class. Oladapo has the size and strength to hold up in the trenches, and while run defense will always be his calling card, this large build also allows him to make plays as a blitzer and match up with tight ends in coverage. He also appears to be a positive influence in the locker room as evidenced by his role as a team captain.

Oladapo’s strength in the box will earn him a spot on the field, but his lack of versatility will keep him from ever developing into anything more than a situational player. While he has the size to match up with tight ends, he lacks the awareness and ball skills to make plays on the ball. His coverage worries don’t end there, as he’s too slow to play deep safety and not quick enough to cover shifty slot receivers. If he’s on the field on a passing play, he’ll probably be a weak link on the defense. Seeing as the run game is becoming less and less important with every passing year, one-dimensional run-first players like Kitan Oladapo are becoming less and less valuable in the NFL Draft.

Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports

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