Lions make the best of a bad situation ahead of NFL Draft
The Detroit Lions traded former top-3 draft pick Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday; and while some may bristle at the idea of trading a former top draft pick, the Lions didn't and they now look like geniuses for executing the deal. Okudah may have been a heralded player in the 2020 NFL […]
The Detroit Lions traded former top-3 draft pick Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday; and while some may bristle at the idea of trading a former top draft pick, the Lions didn't and they now look like geniuses for executing the deal.
Okudah may have been a heralded player in the 2020 NFL Draft, but his play in Detroit said otherwise. The former Buckeye was routinely beat in coverage, failed to play a full season, and recorded just two interceptions in 25 career games with the Lions. Per Pro Football Reference, quarterbacks averaged the fifth-highest QB rating (104.8) when targeting Okudah in coverage. That mark was among all cornerbacks with at least 119 targets since 2020 and was out of 64 qualifying players.
Okudah also allowed the seventh-highest completion percentage (67.2%) and the highest average yards per completion and target (15.4 and 10.3, respectively) over that span. Per Pro Football Focus, Okudah never recorded a coverage grade higher than 54.4 and he never recorded an overall defensive grade higher than 59.4.
It's more than safe to say that Okudah didn't turn out like the previous Lions regime envisioned when it drafted him. When this happens, it's typically hard to receive solid draft compensation. Especially when there are impending decisions regarding topics like the potential approval of Okudah's fifth-year option.
But the Lions found a way to circumvent the difficulty of finding a worthy dance parter. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Lions received a fifth-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Okudah's services. But, the Lions also cleared the $5,182,074 charge for Okudah in 2023. Meaning, they created that much cap room.
And, the Lions don't have to worry about the looming decision of approving Okudah's fifth-year option. Granted, that decision was probably already made, but now, it's completely off the books and the minds of the Lions, which is another win.
Receiving any draft compensation higher than a seventh-rounder and creating a good chunk of cap space for a player drafted by a previous regime is quite the maneuver for the Lions.
They're also in a great spot to draft the best cornerback in the NFL Draft, so it's not like the Lions have a ton of questions at the spot Okudah once manned. Christian Gonzalez, the draft's top CB, should be there at No. 6 and would be a great fit for the Lions.
There should even be options like Deonte Banks at No. 18 in case the Lions decide to address the front seven at No. 6.
In all, it's another savvy move that has the Lions looking good as the offseason rolls on.
