Addition of Jeff Okudah
Jeff Okudah could be the best cornerback to enter the NFL in some time. The Lions wasted little time in making him the No. 3 overall draft selection earlier this and he has shut down potential written all over him.
Okudah’s time at Ohio State saw him emerge as one of the country’s brightest young talents. Opposing quarterbacks rarely threw in his direction and when they did, it was often met with a pass breakup or a turnover.
If he can make a smooth transition to the next level, it is going to be another substantial boost for a Detroit defense that suffered plenty of struggles in 2019.
His elite ability to cover down the field has been NFL ready for some time. There doesn’t seem to be many weaknesses in Okudah’s play, so a lack of preseason games should not harm his chances of making an immediate impression at the pro level.
There is a good chance that Okudah will be tasked with covering the best wideouts in the business from the word go, which would probably include Vikings No. 1 option Adam Thielen. This is a challenge he is sure to relish and it will not take long for him to become a star if the Buckeye product reaches his ceiling.
Locking down one side of the field is arguably the hardest thing to do. Rookie cornerbacks tend to go through some growing pains as they adjust to covering bigger, quicker, and more prolific receivers. But Okudah might be the exception to this rule.