Tag: Draft guides

“A confident competitor, Dinson collects his lower body to break on throws or attack downhill in run support, sticking his shoulder into the ball carrier and driving his feet to finish. However, he can be baited out of position with questionable instincts from deep coverage. Overall, Dinson cut down on the mental mistakes as a senior, but his corner safety tweener skills might leave him without a natural position at the NFL level.”

NFL.com

“Dinson’s toughness and consistency of play are obvious on tape, but he’s a defensive back who doesn’t quite fit the physical/athletic pieces together in finding a position. He’s built like a cornerback playing safety but runs more like a linebacker, and he doesn’t have the size teams look for in a safety roaming the box. He has excellent instincts and recognition underneath, but lacks the coverage range and short-area burst to disrupt catches at the desired rate. He might need to add weight and lock into a role as a special teams worker bee and a dime safety, but the lack of speed is a big hindrance.”

Pro Football Focus

“Dinson is another in a long line of college players whose athletic traits simply don’t measure up to what teams are looking for in the NFL. He got protected a lot in a box role for Auburn in his career where he could matchup with tight ends or wrap up in space on screens well. When asked to play on the back end though it was a different story. He showed very limited range and it’s something teams won’t even risk at the next level. To play box full-time though in the NFL, you need a bit more size than Dinson’s listed 191 pounds. At that point, he’s a man without a real position.”

Summary

All three analysts came to the same basic conclusion: Dinson’s size and traits may leave him as a positionless player in the NFL.

Teams often shy away from tweener prospects, as they are challenging to place into a defined role, but the Lions’ have often found homes for untraditional prospects. When you look at the guaranteed money the Lions have invested in Dinson, it appears they have a plan of where to use him and are willing to gamble on his upside.

Detroit Lions signed undrafted rookie Jeremiah Dinson to free agent deal that includes $80,000 guaranteed, with $30,000 signing bonus and $50,000 base salary guarantee

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 26, 2020

Based on Dinson’s struggles in deep coverage, and above-average success in coverage and tackling, he appears pegged for the Lions slot safety role. But knowing where he fits on the roster is only part of the equation.

Dinson’s first obstacle will be the Lions’ depth chart as Will Harris and Jayron Kearse are currently expected to rotate through the slot safety role and both are clearly ahead.

But not all is lost for Dinson.

At the end of the day, Dinson’s path to the roster role probably won’t be determined by what he does on defense but more than likely what he does on special teams. That will put him in direct competition with last year’s undrafted free agent C.J. Moore, who held down the Lions fifth safety role and was a starting gunner in 2019.

It’ll be a tough road for Dinson to make the roster, but Moore showed it can be done, and based on the Lions’ investment in him, they think he has a chance.

Jalen Elliott evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions UDFA safety Jalen Elliott.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions undrafted free agent safety Jalen Elliott, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A three-year starter at Notre Dame, Elliott lined up at free safety in Clark Lea’s hybrid 4-3 scheme. A high school quarterback, he developed into a durable starter on defense for the Irish, although his senior season didn’t live up to the promise he showed as a junior (played better during Senior Bowl practices). Elliott is quicker than fast with the balance in his transition to redirect to cover tight ends or chase ball carriers in pursuit. However, he looks like a fish out of water in man coverage, lacking the anticipation or burst to be a playmaker. Overall, Elliott has high-level intangibles and flashes NFL skill, but the consistency (especially in coverage) isn’t there, lacking a distinguishing trait that will stand out during camp next to NFL-level players.”

NFL.com

“Elliott has good size and average straight-line speed, but he’s lacking as an open-field tackler and simply doesn’t make enough plays. His 2018 tape might be a better snapshot of his abilities, but even in that tape, it’s clear that he has coverage limitations in man or zone. He has below-average awareness and instincts that pull him out of position. Lacks necessary tools for consistent recovery. He has good size and may test well, which, along with his special teams potential, gives him a shot to make a roster.”

Pro Football Focus

“Elliott came into 2019 riding the high of a 2018 season that saw a number of Notre Dame defenders grade out excellently. He showed some of the best ball skills of any safety in the nation back in 2018. With his length and physicality, that should be a skill that translates immediately to the NFL. Unfortunately, that’s only a small portion of the safety position. He has far too many reps where he’s stumbling all over himself on the back end leading to big plays. The fluidity simply isn’t there and a change of positions could feasibly be in Elliott’s future.”

The Draft Network

“Jalen Elliott projects as a bottom of the roster depth safety who will have the opportunity to find an impact as a special teams contributor thanks to his tackling ability and requisite long speed. Elliott is somewhat athletically limited and will likely struggle to command reps in deep coverages — instead he can serve as a coverage defender on the kick teams and look to put his tackling prowess to use there. Defensive reps are best served in shallow spaces, avoid him in deep coverage.”

Hunter Bryant evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions UDFA tight end Hunter Bryant.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions undrafted free agent tight end Hunter Bryant, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A two-year starter at Washington, Bryant lined up across the formation in Chris Petersen’s shotgun spread offense, doing most of his damage out of the slot. He battled two serious knee injuries over his first two seasons for the Huskies, missing 12 total games, but he stayed healthy and productive in year three, finishing No. 2 in school history in career receiving yards (1,394) by a tight end. With his speed and run balance, Bryant is a dynamic threat before and after the catch, making it tough for single tacklers to ground him in space. While he shows athletic ball skills, he is a low-percentage finisher with crowded catch points. As a blocker, he struggles to sustain and shouldn’t be expected to handle inline duties. Overall, Bryant is a low-ceiling blocker and could use a few more credits in receiving school, but his plus athletic traits as a pass-catcher make him a potential mismatch “move” tight end if the medicals are clean.”

NFL.com

“He will get the matchup-tight-end moniker, but scouts feel like he’s more of a big slot receiver in the pros. He doesn’t have ideal size or determination as a blocker, but he has sticky hands with the acceleration to work past linebackers and threaten seams. He’s a straight-line mover who gets bogged down in and out of breaks. He has playmaking ability but needs linear routes that allow him to keep moving on all three levels. Bryant is a scheme-dependent pass-catcher with a higher ceiling, but lower floor and a history of knee injuries that will need clearance by NFL medical staffs.”

Pro Football Focus

“You could tell Bryant was something special way back as a freshman when he was stealing targets from Drew Sample. He had this H-Back body, but kept getting lost behind linebackers and defenses had no answer. Unfortunately, his knee injury complications never let us see what he could be as a sophomore in 2018, but we finally got to see the realy Bryant go off this past season. There’s no questions about him as a receiver, rather whether the 6-2, 240 pounder will even be treated as a tight end by opponents. Before you write him off entirely as a blocker, I’ll remind you that Delanie Walker – one of the best blocking tight ends of the past decade – came into the league at 6-1, 240 pounds.”

The Draft Network

“Hunter Bryant should be a dynamic receiving threat at the NFL level. Bryant brings excellent quickness, run after catch skills and versatility to a flex tight end role. Plugging Bryant into a traditional inline role will water down his receiving skills — he’s best working off the LOS or as a flexed slot receiver who can serve as a H/W/S mismatch for opposing defenders. If Bryant it put in such a flex role, look for early production and long-term starter status in the pros.”

Draft Wire

“Bryant is one of the top tight ends in the upcoming NFL draft class. He isn’t your grandfather’s type of tight end, but more of a big slot receiver in the body of a tight end. Bryant is an absolute weapon in the passing game, if you are looking for a pass catching threat then this Bryant is for you. Get him running up the seams and let the man work.”

John Penisini evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions sixth-round pick John Penisini.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions sixth-round pick, defensive tackle John Penisini, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A two-year starter at Utah, Penisini lined up at defensive tackle in defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s even and odd fronts, mostly as the three-technique and often in a frog stance. He has a rugby background and although he isn’t mentioned often when talking about Utah’s stacked defense, the coaches go out of their way to praise his impact. Penisini has large, physical hands and embraces the “worker bee” mentality to control the point of attack. He doesn’t flash the same type of power as a bull rusher and has a small radius of impact. Overall, Penisini is aimless as a pass rusher and needs to develop his upper body technique, but he battles with powerful leverage and loves doing the dirty work, projecting as a rotational one-gap run plugger in the NFL.”

NFL.com

“Backup nose tackle with the girth and anchor to clog the drain as a run-stopper. Penisini can twitch and club off the snap for occasional early wins or punch, extend and two-gap when needed. He has massive, violent hands and quality upper-body strength but will find the going much tougher against bigger, stronger competition. He has lower body strength to push into the pocket once he gets to an edge, but he doesn’t offer much rush value. He has backup potential as an early-down nose for odd or even front schemes.”

Pro Football Focus

“While run defense may not have near the value that pass-rushing prowess does, it’s still fun to watch someone as dominant as Penisini go to work one-onone in the run game. The man is a technician who fires with his hands and hips in unison snap after snap. It’s rare to see him lose a leverage battle single-blocked — and even more rare to see him moved backward. The surprising thing is that he wasn’t simply limited to plays right in front of him, as Penisini can get moving up and down the line. He’s a one-hitter pass-rusher with little bull-rush to speak of, but that’s not why you’re drafting
him.”

The Draft Network

“John Penisini projects as a bottom of the roster nose tackle at the pro level. He’s a viable option preferably on early downs and he has requisite length and enough punch power to offset upfield charges and neutralize defenders in their tracks. There’s some pleasant spring in his first step, but he’s got much work ahead of him if he’s going to develop into a pressure presence up front for a defense. He’s a solid player and should be able to lock into an active roster as a rookie.”

Quintez Cephus evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions fifth-round pick Quintez Cephus.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions fifth-round pick, wide receiver Quintez Cephus, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A three-year starter at Wisconsin, Cephus was the go-to receiver in head coach Paul Chryst’s pro-style scheme, lining up both inside and outside. A
basketball-first athlete the first 18 years of his life, he took a winding road to this point in his career, including a 22-month absence from the field at Wisconsin (broken leg and off-field issues, including his expulsion after the sexual assault charges), returning in 2019 to lead the team in receiving. Cephus is a good-sized athlete with the catch radius and toughness that translates well to the pro game. Although he doesn’t labor in/out of his breaks, his patterns lack nuance and he must adopt more attention to detail. Overall, Cephus needs to better coordinate the athleticism within his routes, but his hardwood background is apparent with his body control and ball skills, displaying NFL impact potential if he adds polish.”

NFL.com

“After missing all of 2018, Cephus got right back into the swing of things culminating with memorable games against Ohio State and Oregon. Size and body positioning create workable windows in tight quarters and his ball skills build trust with the quarterback. He’s a build-up runner who lacks suddenness to uncover and may need to be motioned, bunched, and lined in the slot to help with early separation. Teams know he can catch it but will need to see him get open. Cephus is a possession receiver with the profile of a capable WR3/4.”

Pro Football Focus

“Cephus has a lot of traits that make you think his game can translate to the NFL. He’s one of the best receivers at handling press coverage in the entire draft class and proved as much in his matchup with the Ohio State cornerbacks this season. Cephus has tremendous ball skills with numerous highlight reel catches on his tape. Unfortunately, Cephus is just so far below average athletically for the position that it’s difficult to see him consistently separating in the NFL. It would be one thing if he was an overly physical, imposing receiver with his athleticism, but at only a shade over 200 pounds, it’s unlikely Cephus will be imposing his will on NFL cornerbacks.”

The Draft Network

“Quintez Cephus is one of the more undervalued receivers in the class of 2020. Cephus can win from the outside, he can win from the slot and if he played in about 100 other offenses in college football he’d have had drastically better production. Significant off-field allegations (since cleared) kept him off the field in 2018 but Cephus bounced back with a strong 2019 campaign, showing effective releases, strong hands and an assertive mentality with the ball in the air. Potential starter.

Draft Wire

“Cephus made a name for himself as a well-rounded pass-catcher at Wisconsin. His ability to track the ball and use body control in the air makes him a nice target for quarterbacks. He is a projected slot receiver at the next level with some ability to play outside.”

Logan Stenberg evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions fourth-round pick Logan Stenberg.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions fourth-round pick Logan Stenberg, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A three-year starter at Kentucky, Stenberg lined up exclusively at left guard in offensive coordinator Eddie Gran’s run-heavy, conservative offense. He as part of an offensive line that helped the Wildcats average 278.8 rushing yards per game in 2019, which ranked fourth-best in college football, although his 14 penalties ranked second-most among all interior linemen at the FBS level. Stenberg competes with a mauling attitude and is not only physically aggressive, but he works to dominate the mental game as well, getting into the heads of defensive linemen. While he removes defenders from run lanes with his play strength, he tends to play tight and upright in pass protection, causing his base to narrow and allowing rushers to move him. Overall, Stenberg must improve his pad level and discipline issues to be a more consistent performer, but his competitive edge and natural power are why he has starting potential in the NFL.”

NFL.com

“Scrappy, blue-collar guard who plays an assignment-oriented, dependable brand of football. Stenberg is lacking in both body composition and pure play strength and is much better at the first two phases of the block than the finishing phase. He’s smart and aware in pass protection, with adequate recovery athleticism to battle edge-to-edge rushers. He should be a capable NFL backup who can step in and hold up if he’s asked to step in and start.”

Pro Football Focus

“Watching Stenberg’s tape you almost have to ask if he’s too physical? The man was flagged a ridiculous 14 times this past season because he simply will not let defenders off of his blocks. He leads the NCAA by my unofficial tally in pancake blocks with the running back well past him. Those vice grip hands will serve him well in the NFL, but some offensive line coach needs to reel him in to some degree or he’ll be a flag machine. I’ll take my chances with all the good on tape though.”

The Draft Network

“Logan Stenberg projects as a starter in a gap/power heavy scheme at the pro level. Stenberg is a mauler with a tenacious demeanor and will be an effective tone setter — although he does have his limitations. Stenberg is not a dynamic mover and his stiffness will present issues with remaining stuck on his blocks for an extended period of time. In all, Stenberg’s wins in close quarters outweigh his lack of range and influence on the fringes. Very scheme specific but can serve as a starter.”

Draft Wire

“Stenberg does a good job of latching onto his defender and is able to sustain his blocks well. His hands can be like vice grips in that when he locks onto a defensive lineman, odds that a defender can shed his block are very minimal at best. Plays with a mauler like attitude and demeanor. When he gets pushback with a bullrush, Stenberg is able to sit down and anchor. He shows tremendous strength.”

Jonah Jackson evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions third-round pick Jonah Jackson.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions third-round pick Jonah Jackson, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A one-year starter at Ohio State, Jackson played left guard in head coach Ryan Day’s scheme. After only 11 wins over his four years at Rutgers, he became an integral part of Ohio State’s 13-win College Football Playoff team in 2019 after the Buckeyes lost four of their five offensive line starters from 2018. Jackson is a very stout blocker and wins with his natural size and energy, overwhelming defenders at the point of attack. His upper half is quicker than his lower half, however, which leads to balance and mechanical issues, especially in space. Overall, Jackson lacks ideal range and isn’t nearly as effective outside his square, but his natural size, strength and tenacity are NFL-quality traits, projecting as a future NFL starter in a power scheme.”

NFL.com

“Guard/center prospect whose run-blocking and pass protection tape are polar opposites. He’s not a natural bender and the hand placement is rough, making sustaining blocks a challenge. However, the narrow base as a drive blocker turns into a wide, balanced base in pass sets. He’s a terrific processor of twists and blitzes who expedites his process and finds his work. If a team can improve the hands and body control they might have something, but he’s more likely a backup option for teams targeting pass protection inside at guard or center.”

Pro Football Focus

“Jackson might not win any beauty contests with his play, but he’s one of our favorite guards in the class. The fact that he’s done it at both right and left guard in back-to-back seasons is also a huge plus in our eyes with how difficult that transition can be. Jackson’s calling card is his balance. His ability to get knocked to the side by defenders, stay on his feet, and re-engage the block is second to none in this class. He personifies the term ‘go down swinging’ as even when he does lose, he’s usually holding on for dear life and not letting his man off the block. Combine that with his grading profile and it’s easy to see why we’re high on him.”

The Draft Network

“Jonah Jackson projects as a viable NFL starter at the next level. Jackson, who transferred from Rutgers to spend his final college season in Columbus, has ample body control and strong cadence on the interior to set up clean framing of his blocks and was a consistent catalyst for big plays in the run game throughout the 2019 season. Jackson projects best to a zone scheme, given his lateral mobility and footwork — but he would be a viable option in a gap heavy scheme as well.”

Draft Wire

“Jackson provides flexibility at the NFL level that will make him an attractive option as general managers and front offices look to build their rosters. He can be an option at both guard and at center. A player who can fill the role of guard and center would allow teams to focus roster spots elsewhere with a player like Jackson.”

Julian Okwara evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions third-round pick Julian Okwara.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions third-round pick Julian Okwara, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A two-year starter at Notre Dame, Okwara lined up primarily as a stand-up rusher in Clark Lea’s hybrid 4-3 scheme, rushing from both sides. He was only 215 pounds when he arrived in South Bend and has come a long way in his development, although he is still far from reaching his ceiling. Okwara screams off the edge with the speed that makes quarterbacks uncomfortable, using that same athleticism to drop and make plays away from the line of scrimmage. He often appears aimless in his rush plan with erratic hands and too many “almost” plays on his tape. Overall, Okwara is an inconsistent run defender with strength and consistency questions, but he is an exceptional athlete with a projectable body, projecting as a high risk, high reward pass rusher.”

NFL.com

“The lanky edge rusher followed up an impressive 2018 with a slightly disappointing senior season that saw a drop in production and ended prematurely due to a broken leg. One look at his NFL brother (Romeo Okwara, Lions) should tell teams to project Julian as a bigger, stronger player with time. He has build-up speed up around the edge and carries an impressive closing burst to seal the deal, but he’s in desperate need of a rush counter to keep tackles guessing. He hasn’t shown a consistent ability to play the run, so his NFL success could generate a thumbs up or down based primarily on his ability to cause havoc as a rusher.”

Pro Football Focus

“Okwara is an interesting prospect for a number of reasons. The first being his pure athleticism. At his listed 6-4 1/2 and 248 pounds, he moves more like a tight end or wide receiver than an edge defender. The second is
that even though he’s undersized, his bull-rush is his go-to pass-rushing move. That’s a very interesting combination, the likes of which you rarely see from a college prospect. It’s also one that we’d bet on translating to the NFL – especially since it’s already translated to the college football field.”

The Draft Network

Evaluator: Jacob Infante

“Julian Okwara projects as a potential starter as a rush linebacker at the NFL level. Okwara’s functional athleticism and burst off the edge can be a potent weapon in an offense where he can serve as the complementary rusher and attack in 1 on 1 situations. Okwara’s lack of power components can restrict his effectiveness if additional attention is directed his way in pass protection but his pure speed components from wide alignments will garner pressure.”

Draft Wire

“He is an athletic force off the edge who accelerates well as a stand-up rusher and has plenty of bend and flexibility when chasing down the passer. He is able to turn the corner very well, as his body control, flexibility and speed allow him to maintain sharp pursuit angles while ripping and dipping underneath offensive tackles. Okwara is a fluid player who can change direction seamlessly and move around naturally in space. That fluidity, along with his long arms and solid height, gives him some value when dropping back in coverage. He has the raw speed to chase down backside plays and still make an impact, as well.”

D’Andre Swift evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions second-round pick D’Andre Swift.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions second-round pick D’Andre Swift, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The reviews are glowing.

The Athletic

“A two-year starter at Georgia, Swift was the feature back in former offensive coordinator James Coley’s pro-style spread. He played a key role in three straight SEC Eastern Division titles for the Bulldogs and finished his career No. 1 in school history with 6.56 yards per carry, just ahead of Todd Gurley’s 6.44. Swift is a patient athlete with the short-area explosiveness and speed to pick, slide and juke, making him tough to tackle one-on-one. He needs to clean up some inconsistencies in passing situations, but defenders lose him as a receiver and effort isn’t a concern in pass protection. Overall, Swift has the uncanny ability to make defenders miss and runs with the instinctive ability to quickly survey and create positive yardage, projecting as a feature back in the NFL if he stays healthy.”

NFL.com

“Swift possesses the play traits and running style of a skillful NFL veteran and is the latest in an avalanche of talented Georgia backs. Tempo and decisiveness are his calling cards, making him a highly talented inside/outside zone runner. He’s a cerebral runner who understands block timing and uses quick-cut agility and rare spatial awareness to read and react to defenses beyond the second level. Swift isn’t overly explosive as a home-run hitter and doesn’t run with the violence of last year’s top running back, Josh Jacobs. He can step right in and provide early stability and production as an efficient, every-down back with Offensive Rookie of the Year potential.”

Pro Football Focus

“I’m of the opinion that Swift’s build at 5-9, 215 pounds is the ideal size for a running back. Being that low to the earth helps with balance while still not being too heavy that it’s detrimental to quickness. All those things are true about Swift, whose real trump card isn’t actually either of those things. He’s a precise route runner who has lined up in the slot even at times in his Georgia
career. While he may not have the pure elusiveness of some of the top backs in the class, you can count on him to beat linebackers on his routes consistently.”

The Draft Network

“D’Andre Swift is an unquestioned feature back and three down threat at the NFL level. Swift brings a pretty rare blend of size, agility, speed and receiving ability — he’s capable of overhauling an NFL team’s rushing attack with his every down skill set. Swift projects well to an inside zone rushing offense, where his cuts and anticipation can shine, but he’s a feasible fit in just about every rushing offense given his vast array of skills and rare blend of inside/outside talents. Day One plus starter.”

Draft Wire

“Swift is likely the top rated running back on most draft boards and could be the first one selected in the NFL Draft. Based on how he plays the game, Swift has future New England Patriot written all over him (well, if they didn’t already have former teammate Sony Michel).

“Despite the position being devalued over the years, there is a lot of value in taking a back the caliber of Swift with four to five years of control at a lower cost. His play style is very much like current Carolina Panthers do-it-all weapon Christian McCaffrey.”

Jeff Okudah evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides

A comprehensive look at what 2020 NFL Draft guides said in their evaluations of Detroit Lions first-round pick Jeff Okudah.

To get a better look at the Detroit Lions first-round pick Jeff Okudah, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.

The Athletic

“A one-year starter at Ohio State, Okudah lined up at left cornerback in Hafley’s press-heavy scheme, seeing extensive reps on an island in Cover 1. The Buckeyes have been a cornerback factory when it comes to producing NFL-level players, but none of them were unanimous All-Americans like Okudah, who led the team in passes defended and interceptions in 2019. Okudah owns the athletic twitch to attach himself to receivers and make plays on the football, showing a keen understanding of zone, man and different schemes. He learned from three position coaches in his three seasons in Columbus and his technique quickly caught up with his traits. Overall, Okudah owns the necessary physical and mental makeup to be a No. 1 cornerback early in his NFL career, projecting as one of the best defensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.”

NFL.com

“Head coach and general manager’s dream prospect with blue-chip physical traits, mental makeup and personal character. He has size, length and foot quickness to road-block press release and elite closing burst to close catch windows or eliminate yards after catch. He has room for improvement with his recognition and balance at the top of the route, but quarterbacks rarely target and beat him over the top. He has a rigid adherence to technique, but squeezing coverage even tighter and trusting his traits, talent and recovery speed could make him one of the top shutdown corners in the game.”

Pro Football Focus

“Okudah really does have it all. The ‘cons’ on his scouting report were some of the most difficult to write of any prospect in the class. He not only has a high floor, but everything you want for a high ceiling.”

The Draft Network