Lions Want to Reintroduce the First-Round Bust

The Detroit Lions left with the team’s final first-round selection made prior to the hiring of head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. That was Jeff Okudah, the cornerback that the Lions dealt to the Atlanta Falcons during the previous summer.

On February 16, however, Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports included Okudah among the four players the Lions ought to think about re-signing in free agency.

“In the NFL, Jeff Okuadah does not start at cornerback. Simply put, he’s not,” Payton wrote. However, that does not preclude him from playing football. Okudah has demonstrated time and again that he is capable of succeeding on the field.

“Well, why not try him again as a depth guy?”

The Lions definitely need to add more cornerback depth because cornerbacks Kindle Vildor, Jerry Jacobs, and Emmanuel Moseley are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Lions selected Okudah as their third overall choice. His first two seasons in Detroit were marred by injuries, though, and he didn’t perform well in 2022.

The previous season, Okudah was with the Falcons after being traded by the Lions for a fifth-round pick.

The Potential Benefits of Jeff Okudah for the Lions in 2024

Payton stated unequivocally that Okudah isn’t the game-changing acquisition the Lions desperately need at cornerback. However, Payton contends that Okudah might replace Vildor in the cornerback room if he does not return.

Although Okudah can step in and be a backup cornerback in a rotation, Payton stated that the Lions should prioritize signing stronger corners in free agency. “I’ve spoken a lot about why the Lions should retain Kindle Vildor for this kind of position, but Okudah is a better fit.

In addition, he has two years of coaching staff experience. Reuniting with Aaron Glenn would be intriguing, and Deshea Townsend, the new defensive backs coach, has a track record of motivating his team.

Townsend was brought on by the Lions to serve as the team’s cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator, according to a February 8 report from Pro Football Talk.Townsend won two Super Bowls as a player and has ten seasons of NFL coaching experience.

After getting hurt during the 2023 training camp, Okudah didn’t play again until Week 3. After returning, Okudah’s defensive snaps were relatively restricted, although he was effective in his first four games back.

However, Okudah suffered when assuming a starting position, as he did in Detroit. He has had a Pro Football Focus player grade of less than 50 (out of 100) in five of his last nine outings.

In addition, Okudah was inactive for two of Atlanta’s final five games.

At the end of the 2023 regular season, Okudah had 44 total tackles, including 1