Jeff Okudah (Photo: Twitter)
The Detroit Lions' defense last year was atrocious.
So, ESPN writes that it makes a lot of sense that Detroit picked defensive cornerback Jeff Okudah from Ohito State as its first round draft pick Thursday evening.
Michael Rothstein of ESPN writes:
This was the pick that always seemed to make the most sense for the Lions. Okudah is the top cornerback on the board. On a team that traded Darius Slay to Philadelphia last month and then signed Desmond Trufant in free agency, there was still a hole for a starting corner opposite Trufant and now the Lions have a player who should transition into a No. 1 corner sooner than later.
General manager Bob Quinn never had an issue taking a corner this early, saying he wasn't sure why teams avoided corners in the top five. "It's obviously critical [as a position] and has high value in the league," Quinn said last week. "Really, when you look at corners, basically you have three corners that are starters in professional football now." Detroit added one to go with Trufant and Justin Coleman at No. 3 in the draft.
The Lions website says:
Family emigrated from Nigeria to New Jersey in 1990 and soon relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Okudah became a five-star football recruit at South Grand Prairie High School. Versatile athlete, also played wide receiver and averaged more than 24 yards per catch in 2015.
Ascended steadily at Ohio State. Did not start until 2019 but played regularly in 2018 and played well – tied for ninth on the team with 26 unassisted tackles and tied for team lead with eight pass breakups.
No words can explain this feeling, I’m ready to get to work! @Lions #OnePride
