Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State
Height | 6-1
Weight | 200
Strengths
In terms of physical tools at the cornerback position, you’d have a hard time finding a player in this class with more than Okudah.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back has great length and the bulk to keep up physically with bigger receivers in coverage. He isn’t afraid of contact, jamming the opposition well in press coverage with refined hand usage and maintaining focus on the ball in tight windows. He’s also a willing tackler who plays with a high motor in run support.
Okudah’s fluidity and athleticism is among the best in the 2020 draft. He can change direction on a dime: he might have the most flexible hips in the class. His tape showcases impressive acceleration coming out of his breaks and great closing speed when attacking the ball. In case he ever slips when defending the top of the route, he has the recovery speed to keep himself in the play.
Weaknesses
Okudah isn’t an incredibly flawed prospect, but he still has some room to improve.
Though his instincts have gotten progressively better throughout his collegiate career, they’re still a work in progress. He currently has average route anticipation and can be a split second too slow to read the quarterback’s eyes and jump a route at times. Those developing instincts hampered his ball production early in his career: he had no interceptions prior to 2019.
Okudah’s technique could use some work, as both a cover corner and a tackler. He has a tendency to arm tackle at times, and his pad level in run support could be improved. While he’s a stellar athlete, he tends to trust his athleticism too much, and his footwork and patience could be polished a bit.
Bottom Line
Perhaps no cornerback in this draft class has the upside that Okudah has. With his size, athleticism and physicality, he fits the prototype for a top cornerback prospect. If all goes well, he should be able to excel very early in his professional career.
Projection: Top 10
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