Experiments can only last so long for NFL teams that are in positions to compete.

It would be nice for the Detroit Lions to get the chance to sit on all of their young players that aren't panning out and hope that something changes down the road, but there is a window that just opened that may not happen again.

If the Lions truly are focused on competing as one of the top teams in the NFC, tough moves are coming in the name of winning, and one just happened.

In a move that shouldn't come as a crazy surprise, the Lions have finally made the decision to move on from Jeff Okudah in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons.

Trade: the Falcons are acquiring Lions CB Jeff Okudah, his agent Kevin Conner of @UniSportsMgmt confirmed.

Conner articulated that the GMs of the two teams involved – Detroit’s Brad Holmes and Atlanta’s Terry Fontenot – made it a seamless, collaborative process. The… pic.twitter.com/vjSqui79aE

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 11, 2023

Okudah, who came to the Lions as the third-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, simply hadn't panned out yet due to a variety of reasons.

Two interceptions in three years and a few injuries too many are hard to look past when you invested so much in a player that looked like a sure thing.

With a few new faces on the roster that looked poised to take over the starting reps, the options with the young corner started to dry up fast, and the Lions had to act before their hands became tied in a bad way.

It may hurt to see the team move on from a guy that looked so promising a few years ago, but this looks like the best move possible when looking at where Okudah was at as a proven player and what his cap hit/future cap hit could become.