After an active first week of free agency, the Minnesota Vikings are now shifting toward filling out depth. The Athletic's Alec Lewis first reported the Vikings have "had their eyes on" former Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah, with subsequent reporting Monday morning (and confirmation by the team) that the former first-round pick is in town for a visit
Okudah was drafted No. 3 overall by the Lions in the 2020 NFL Draft. After a rookie season where he dealt with injuries and the coaching of Matt Patricia, he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 of the 2021 campaign and missed the balance of that season.
Okudah played 15 games during the 2022 season, and he played well for a stretch, including Week 3, where held Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson to just two catches for nine yards (according to PFF).
But later in that season, a concussion, what looked like a benching, and an elbow injury which may or may not have been genuine ultimately led to him being traded to the Atlanta Falcons before Detroit had to decide whether or not (it surely would have been "not") to pick up his fifth-year option.
After one season with the Falcons, where he played in 13 games and started nine, Okudah signed with the Houston Texans in 2024. He played in just six games for them last season, as he missed nine games due to a hip injury.
Minnesota Vikings should avoid signing former Detroit Lions CB Jeff Okudah
Wherever he ultimately lands as a free agent, Okudah is sure to be signed to a cheap one-year deal. Lewis noted how within the premise of the Vikings apparently having strong interest, "his man coverage ability and physicality would make for some fun matchups with Jefferson and Addison during training camp."
Fun training camp matchups with Minnesota's top two wide receivers aside, Okudah has shown a lack of ability to be consistently available throughout his career.
The situation he was drafted into in Detroit was about as bad and dysfunctional as it can get, but that was quite a while ago now and that good stretch of play in 2022 is fast becoming a mirage.
There's a solid argument that the Vikings need to add a veteran cornerback from what remains of free agency. But they can surely do better than an injury-prone failed former top-five overall pick.