Moving on from a former top draft pick is a very difficult job in the NFL. Sure, the player may not pan out at the expected rate, but how long can you truly wait for a guy to take the next steps?

The Detroit Lions have seen this plenty over the past few years with Jeff Okudah.

Okudah came to the team as a highly-touted, immediate starter that came by way of a third-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That player hasn't really arrived yet.

First things first, no one is saying Okudah is a bad player. Injuries have been a major hinderance for the young corner. Anyone would struggle to find a rhythm after missing games in all three seasons.

Still, the Lions don't have all the time in the world to wait with the NFC opening up.

If the Lions really do go into the season with Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley as the top two corners and C.J. Gardner-Johnson as a guy that is going to play a mountain of reps at DB around the field, what role is Okudah left to play?

Reps are going to dry up quickly with so many veterans coming in, and it is hard to imagine the franchise will feel comfortable shelling out even more money to secure Okudah for the future after seeing so many highs and lows.

As rumors start to swirl that Okudah could be on the market, it is worth mentioning that the Lions should at least listen to all offers, even if they aren't actively looking for a place to send their former third-overall pick.

If winning now truly is the only goal for this team, keeping Okudah does make sense as a great option to compete for top reps off the bench, but it is also worth noting that Okudah losing that job to a player like Jerry Jacobs would crush his trade value, making this a difficult decision for the Lions.

Do you cross your fingers and hope everything turns out well, or do you move on from Okudah while he still has value?

One way or another, Dan Campbell, Aaron Glenn, and Brad Holmes are going to have to make a decision on Jeff Okudah, and it seems like there may not be a right decision that will simply jump out.

Gambles have to happen, but the one certainty is that the secondary in Detroit is going to look very different in 2023. Hopefully it is for the better.