Grading the Detroit Lions 2020 NFL Draft pick by pick

CB Jeffrey Okudah – Grade: B+

Without a doubt, the Detroit Lions made a good decision in picking Jeffrey Okudah. Honestly, I think we were all waiting for them to pick defensive tackle Derrick Brown, or some random offensive lineman.

For the first time in awhile, the Lions followed the script and drafted the player that they were supposed to. But that doesn’t mean the pick was perfect either.

The main thing that kept me from giving this pick an ‘A’ grade is the fact that picking a defensive back this high in the draft is always a gamble. I don’t care who the player is, it’s always a gamble.

Considering the Lions’ defensive needs in the front seven, I also feel that drafting Isaiah Simmons would’ve been a better fit, but hindsight is 20-20.

After Okudah, the next DB to get drafted didn’t come until six picks later in CB CJ Henderson to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Which leads into my next reasoning, there was no trading done with the Miami Dolphins, or another team with a lower first round pick.

Obviously, a trade is a two-way road. The Lions can’t force a trade with a team that doesn’t want to budge. But it seemed as if there was no attempt at a trade.

Now, none of us are in the Detroit Lions’ front office, so maybe there were other factors that played into no trade being done. Perhaps Miami was asking for too much, or maybe vice versa. Either way, I still feel like Okudah was drafted a tad bit too high.

Nonetheless, still a solid pick from Detroit, and a good way to start off the draft.