The Detroit Lions have traded corner Jeff Okudah, their third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, to the Atlanta Falcons. The news was confirmed to ESPN’s Field Yates by the player’s agent Kevin Conner.
In order to land Okudah, the Falcons have sent their fifth-round selection in this year’s draft to Detroit. According to Conner, the trade is viewed as a “win-win for both sides.”
The Lions believed they were getting a cornerback of the future when they selected Jeff Okudah three years ago. However, a series of injuries limited the Ohio State product to just 10 games in his first two seasons and prevented him from establishing himself as a mainstay in Detroit’s secondary.
In 2022, Okudah actually showed some flashes of his talent and put together his best campaign as a pro. He played in 15 games while managing 73 tackles, seven passes defended, one interception, and one defensive touchdown.
Still, this was not enough to convince the Lions, who went on to sign veteran corners Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency. With the duo likely guaranteed to start due to the type of money Detroit spent on them, Okudah became an odd man out.
Okudah gets a change of scenery in Atlanta while moving away from the pressure of being a high pick that didn’t pan out. He is considered a candidate to start opposite All-Pro corner A.J. Terrell in Week 1 for the Falcons.
