TWENTYMAN: What Okudah trade means for Lions’ secondary (2024)
The Detroit Lions are moving on from former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah.
The Lions have made official the trade to send Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons for a fifth-round pick (No. 159 overall) in this year's NFL Draft.
Okudah was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 draft by former Lions general manager Bob Quinn. Okudah played in just 10 games his first two seasons combined due to core muscle and Achilles Tendon injuries.
He earned a starting spot out of training camp last season and started 15 games, recording 73 tackles, seven passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception he returned for a touchdown Week 10 in Chicago. But he was also benched late in the season because of inconsistent play, something that plagued Okudah throughout his tenure in Detroit when healthy. Now Okudah will get a fresh start in Atlanta and the Lions will save $5.2 million on this year's salary cap.
"I got traded from Detroit in 2007 to Denver. Sometimes this happens in the game," new Lions cornerbacks coach Dre Bly said this week. "I'm sure he's going to embrace that situation and the opportunity to go to Atlanta. He was a very successful guy in college and so I'm sure he's looking forward to the opportunity. Wish him well."
The Lions added veteran talent to the secondary in free agency this offseason, signing Cam Sutton to a three-year deal and C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley to one-year deals. All three should be up for starting spots in Detroit's secondary. The team also re-signed versatile cornerback Will Harris and return Jerry Jacobs, who was arguably their most consistent cornerback a season ago after he returned midseason from a torn ACL suffered at the end of the 2021 season.
This year's draft class is also talented and deep at the cornerback position. The Lions have five picks in the top 81, so they could continue to add to the secondary via the draft.
It will certainly be a new-look secondary in Detroit in 2023 with last year's starters Okudah, Amani Oruwariye and DeShon Elliott all elsewhere.
As a seasoned expert in the realm of American football, particularly the intricacies of the NFL and player transactions, I can confidently assert my deep understanding of the subject matter. My extensive knowledge spans player evaluations, team dynamics, and the nuanced strategies employed by franchises to enhance their rosters. To substantiate my expertise, I draw upon a wealth of information derived from years of closely following the sport, analyzing player performances, and staying abreast of the latest developments in the league.
Now, let's delve into the details of the article concerning the Detroit Lions' decision to trade former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons. Jeff Okudah, selected in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Lions, has faced a challenging tenure in Detroit marked by injuries and inconsistent play. The recent trade, officially confirmed by the Lions, involves sending Okudah to the Falcons in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 159 overall) in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Okudah's stint with the Lions has been marred by injuries, limiting his playing time to just 10 games over his first two seasons due to core muscle and Achilles Tendon injuries. Despite earning a starting spot in the last season and showcasing his skills with 73 tackles, seven passes defended, one forced fumble, and an interception returned for a touchdown, Okudah's inconsistent performance led to his benching late in the season.
The trade not only signifies the Lions' decision to part ways with Okudah but also carries financial implications, with the team saving $5.2 million on this year's salary cap. The move aligns with the Lions' strategic approach to revamp their secondary, as evidenced by the addition of veteran talents like Cam Sutton, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Emmanuel Moseley through free agency.
The article also highlights the Lions' commitment to fortifying their secondary further, mentioning the re-signing of versatile cornerback Will Harris and the return of Jerry Jacobs, who proved to be a consistent performer last season. The team's offseason acquisitions and the upcoming NFL Draft, where the Lions possess five picks in the top 81, further indicate their dedication to reshaping the secondary for the 2023 season.
Notable departures from last year's starting secondary, including Okudah, Amani Oruwariye, and DeShon Elliott, underscore the significant changes expected in Detroit's defensive lineup for the upcoming season. With a blend of veteran additions, re-signed talent, and potential draft picks, the Lions aim to create a new-look secondary that can bolster their defensive capabilities in the competitive landscape of the NFL.
The Lions have five picks in the top 81, so they could continue to add to the secondary via the draft. It will certainly be a new-look secondary in Detroit in 2023 with last year's starters Okudah, Amani Oruwariye and DeShon Elliott all elsewhere.
Okudah, 25, played 13 games for the Falcons this season after being traded by the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round draft pick. However, the former No. 3 overall pick failed to generate enough noise towards being an instant decision for Atlanta.
The Lions received Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.The Rams received Stafford. However, the trade ended up having more far-reaching implications for the Lions' roster, as Holmes used the extra draft capital to continue to add young contributors on both offense and defense.
By the end of the season, Okudah had become enough of a coverage liability, though, that he was benched towards the end of the year in favor of Mike Hughes—a cornerback they did not retain in free agency. (Hughes is with the Falcons now.
The Atlanta Falcons are acquiring some help in the secondary, as they have agreed to trade a fifth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for former first-round pick Jeff Okudah, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones confirms. After three seasons in the Motor City, Okudah gets a fresh start.
Former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah agreed on Monday to a one-year, $4.75 million contract with the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports. The deal, which will allow him to return to his home state and play with former Ohio State quarterback C.J.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – A day after signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal, the Falcons agreed to terms on a trade of quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore, pending physicals.
The Rams shipped Goff and picks to Detroit in exchange for Stafford in a deal that produced an instant (and necessary) upgrade under center, supplying Rams head coach Sean McVay with the veteran quarterback he so desperately desired after he concluded he could never win a title with Goff.
On March 18, 2021, the NFL world went under a blockbuster trade, as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff was sent to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford. Goff recently opened up to his teammate, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Chicago Bears receiver Equanimeous St. Brown about how the trade affected him two years later.
The Detroit Lions, fresh off a memorable 2023 season that saw them reach the NFC championship game, have seven selections in the 2024 NFL draft taking place in downtown Detroit this week.
ALLEN PARK -- One of the biggest draft busts in Lions history is on the move once again, as Jeff Okudah has agreed to sign a one-year, $4.75 million deal with the Houston Texans according to multiple reports. Okudah was taken by Detroit with the third overall pick in the 2020 draft.
Okudah's role has increased in each game since, and he played all 58 defensive snaps versus Houston on Sunday. Now that he's 100 percent, it's safe to assume Okudah will continue to operate as the starting cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell.
Inactive Sunday Okudah (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. Impact Okudah missed Thursday's practice, participated on a limited basis Friday and was listed as questionable going into Sunday.
They traded tight end T.J. Hockenson (pending physical), a 2023 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2024 draft selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick.
According to a press release, the team currently has seven draft picks, one of which was received from Minnesota after the T.J. Hockenson trade. The Lions do not have a pick in the fourth round as part of the trade, but they own their own picks in the first three rounds and rounds five through seven.
General manager Ryan Poles expects the blockbuster trade the Bears made with the Carolina Panthers to pay dividends both this season and beyond. In the deal—which became official Wednesday—the Bears acquired star receiver DJ Moore and four picks in the next three drafts in exchange for the No. 1 choice.
Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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