Despite rumors that they would trade down, the Detroit Lions stayed put at the No. 3 overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft and took the player many expected they would, trade down or not: Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah.
With the departure of Darius Slay, the Lions entered the draft with a sizable hole at the cornerback position, and selecting a player of Okudah’s caliber should fill that hole going forward.
Okudah, who had three interceptions and nine pass deflections in 2019, is one of the most talented cornerbacks to enter the draft in recent years. He is a lengthy, athletic, intelligent and physical lockdown defender whose combination of tools essentially make him the prototype at his position. His fluidity and long speed allow him to match up vertically with most anybody he faces, and his willingness to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and fight through contact give him upside in press coverage.
Considering the lack of depth the Lions have at cornerback, Okudah should be able to quickly slide into the starting spot alongside newly-acquired veteran Desmond Trufant. The rookie projects best as a boundary cornerback, where his length and physicality will be put to good use.
Fellow Ohio State alumni Denzel Ward and Marshon Lattimore – both Pro Bowlers in their rookie years – will be the measuring stick for Okudah’s rookie campaign, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he followed in their footsteps.
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