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Illinois Football: 3 NFL teams who need Oluwole Betiku Jr. the most

By Rees Woodcock

IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Running back Toren Young #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is tackled during the second half by defensive back Stanley Green #7, linebacker Khalan Tolson #45, linebacker Dele Harding #9 and defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku #47 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 23, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 23: Running back Toren Young #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is tackled during the second half by defensive back Stanley Green #7, linebacker Khalan Tolson #45, linebacker Dele Harding #9 and defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku #47 of the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 23, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 03: Los Angeles Chargers helmet seen before game against the Green Bay Packers at Dignity Health Sports Park on November 3, 2019 in Carson, California. Chargers won 26-11. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 03: Los Angeles Chargers helmet seen before game against the Green Bay Packers at Dignity Health Sports Park on November 3, 2019 in Carson, California. Chargers won 26-11. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

2. Los Angeles Chargers

I would argue that the Los Angeles Chargers have one of the best one-two punches at defensive end in the NFL. They have two big-time starters in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III. So, why would they need more help?

The depth behind the two talented starters is what kills the Chargers. Despite having those two great defensive ends starting, Los Angeles still ranked No. 29 in the NFL in sacks last season. They averaged 1.9 sacks per game. That number needs to improve.

Behind Bosa and Ingram, the Chargers only have one player listed on their depth chart and that is Isaac Rochell. Rochell was a seventh-round pick back in 2017 by the Chargers and finished the 2019 campaign with 12 tackles and 1 sack.

It would shock me if the Chargers didn’t take a defensive end in the top four rounds of the NFL Draft. But they should also scoop up someone like Oluwole Betiku Jr. to help stabilize the position even more. The marriage of Betiku and the Chargers would make sense.

Betiku played high school football in the state of California, so there is a connection there already. He wouldn’t need to come in and start right away. The ability for him to learn the position better as a backup would be beneficial for both parties. This would be a perfect fit for the athletic, but raw, defensive end.

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