Detroit Lions veteran corner Desmond Trufant spoke to the media on Thursday and had high praise for third overall pick, rookie corner Jeff Okudah.
“I mean honestly, I think he has what it takes,” Trufant said. “I can just tell he’s fundamentally sound. That’s big coming to the NFL from college. Can you do your fundamentals every play? Whether you’re tired, no matter what the situation is, can you continuously do that? I can already tell he’s a technician. He works hard too, and he’s always asking questions. I’m excited to play with him and see how this thing goes.”
Trufant’s words should carry some weight in this situation, as not only is he a seven-year veteran, but he is also a former first-round pick who started as a rookie in the NFL. Furthermore, as Justin Rogers of the Detroit News pointed out during Thursday’s Zoom, Trufant was one of the rare exceptions, who didn’t struggle as a starting rookie corner.
Rogers probed Trufant for information on what advice he got that led to his early success and what advice he would pass along to Okudah:
“Figure out how you’re going to study, how you’re going to rehab, just those everyday routines that all of us vets have,” Trufant said. “And stick to it. If something is working for you, stick to it. At the corner position, there’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders. I would just tell him, you create your own pressure out there. However you feel, however you react to every situation, it’s on you, good or bad. Just stay even-keeled. You’re not going to make every play, but you’re going to make a lot of plays, as well.”
The Lions have begun phase 2 of training camp which means Trufant and Okudah have been getting in some light fieldwork, but they are headed towards non-padded practices this week and are likely to put the pads on as early as Monday.