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With the first pick of the fifth round in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive end, Khalid Kareem.
Notre Dame ➡️ @Bengals
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 25, 2020
Congratulations to @khalid_kareem53 on being the first pick in the fifth round of the @NFLDraft.#GoIrish x #IrishInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/sOHQI0Tj2Z
Another incredible defensive force goes to the @Bengals.
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 25, 2020
I know that @khalid_kareem53 will be an NFL leader on and off the field.
Congratulations, Khalid! #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/8DCLm4ZrrY
Kareem was a 3 year starter with the Irish as well as a captain in his senior year. While Julian Okwara received much of the hype and the headline coverage, Kareem was a terror in his own right and fans fell in love with his toughness game after game.
A lot of mock drafts had Kareem going somewhere in the 3rd or 4th round, but as the NFL Draft proves again and again... these things happen. The most important thing is to GET drafted, and by a team that’s a good fit.
We all hope for the best for Kareem and his future in Cincy.
Lou Anarumo on Khalid Kareem playing DE vs. some LB:
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) April 25, 2020
"I see him as a DE to start, out there securing the edges. When you get a guy as big and tall and long as him, a captain, those are traits that we like."#Bengals @fox19
I'm a big fan of #Bengals 4th round pick DE Khalid Kareem of @NDFootball.
— Dion Caputi (@nfldraftupdate) April 25, 2020
Consistently made plays behind the line of scrimmage & he's a load physically. He wears on O-linemen over the course of a game.
Can produce much more than he did in school at the pro level.#NFLDraft2020