Hard to believe the 2020 NFL Draft was nearly a month ago. With the reports trickling in of the Lions draft picks starting to sign, it’s time to turn back to the draft and look at what some of the Detroit rookies can accomplish in the upcoming season.
Here are early stabs at what four members of the Lions draft class will do in their rookie campaigns.
Jeff Okudah will win the NFL Rookie of the Week three times
The No. 3 overall pick will match his draft slot with the number of times he captures the weekly top rookie honors in 2020. Okudah has a great chance to make an impact in Detroit’s man-heavy defense with his ball skills, coverage acumen and quiet confidence. Teams figure to try and challenge the rookie early, too.
Winning the most Rookie of the Week honors oddly doesn’t equate to winning NFL Rookie of the Year, however. Last year, Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew won the weekly honor seven times, but the yearly award went to 49ers DE Nick Bosa, who didn’t capture one single weekly honor. In 2018, Browns QB Baker Mayfield also won the weekly award seven times but lost out to three-time weekly winner, Saquon Barkley.