What led to Jeff Okudah’s trade by the Lions? Talented American football cornerback Jeffrey Chidera Okudah is presently a member of the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons (NFL).
On February 2, 1999, Okudah was born in the US. He attended South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas, where he excelled in football. He was a five-star recruit who signed with Ohio State University in January 2017 and thrived on the field there.
As a true freshman for Ohio State in 2017, Jeff Okudah started all 14 games and made 17 tackles. He played in 13 games and had 32 tackles as a sophomore in 2018, continuing his stellar performance. In his junior season, he made his first career interception against the Miami Redhawks. Since then, he has racked up 34 tackles, 9 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. This year, his performance earned him unanimous All-American recognition and a place on the Jim Thorpe Trophy shortlist.
In the 2020 NFL Draft, Jeff Okudah was considered the best cornerback prospect because of his stellar college record. He was chosen by the Detroit Lions with the third overall pick, and on July 13, 2020, he agreed to a four-year rookie deal with the organization. A $21.944 million signing bonus was also included in the contract’s total value of $33.528 million.
Jeff Okudah unfortunately missed the first game of the season after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp. In his second game back, he gave up six completions for 96 yards to the Green Bay Packers. The following week, he recovered and made his first career interception on a Kyler Murray pass for the Arizona Cardinals. A core muscle injury forced Okudah to end his first season, and he was put on injured reserve.
After rupturing his Achilles tendon during the Lions’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Okudah was once more placed on injured reserve. On April 11, 2023, the Lions traded him to the Atlanta Falcons for a pick in the fifth round of the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. Despite his injuries, Okudah is still a very gifted player with a bright future in the NFL.
What led to Jeff Okudah’s trade by the Lions?
In the National Football League, Jeff Okudah had a difficult second season. He missed the rest of the season in 2021 due to a torn Achilles tendon that occurred in Week 1 of play. After being selected by the Detroit Lions with the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Okudah has high hopes for his sophomore campaign.
For the Lions in 2022, Okudah played in 15 games. The team was prepared to release him, though, as it became apparent throughout the summer. Okudah fell short of the coaching staff’s and front office’s expectations despite being a top 2020 draft prospect and displaying promise during his undergraduate career at Ohio State. The group made the decision to break ways with him and seek out different cornerback options as a result.
Considering how much they had invested in Okudah just two years previous, the Lions’ choice to split ways with him was probably not an easy one. But in the NFL, teams are always trying to enhance their rosters, and when players fall short of expectations, clubs are forced to make tough choices. Okudah’s professional career suffered as a result of the switch, but he will now have the opportunity to show himself with the Atlanta Falcons, his new team.
