Detroit Lions agree to sign Jeff Okudah, complete cornerback revolution
The Detroit Lions agree to sign their first-round selection in 2020, cornerback Jeff Okudah
On Monday, it was reported that the Detroit Lions have agreed to sign their first-round selection from the 2020 NFL Draft. The Motor City drafted Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah with the third overall pick and have now agreed on a four-year deal with a team option for a fifth.
Only two years ago the Lions’ depth chart at cornerback included names like Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Teez Tabor, and DeShawn Shead. Detroit started a revolution at the position last offseason by inking slot specialist Justin Coleman to an impressive four-year, $36 million contract. The team also released Lawson the same day.
Shead wasn’t re-signed following his lone season in Detroit. And after selecting Tabor with a second-round pick in 2017, the Lions opted to release him during final roster cuts prior to the start of last season.
Instead, the Lions chose to sign yet another veteran on a one-year deal to help fill the void last year. This time it was former Oakland Raider Rashaan Melvin, who started 12 games for Detroit in 2019.
The Motor City would continue their revolution at cornerback this offseason, not re-signing Melvin. Instead, inking former Pro Bowl cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, Desmond Trufant, to a two-year, $21 million deal.
The Detroit Lions biggest move capped their cornerback revolution
Detroit’s biggest change to the position this offseason was the trading away of Slay, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions received a third and fifth-round draft pick as compensation.
In order to replace Slay, the Lions used their top selection in the 2020 NFL Draft on Okudah. Arguably the top defensive talent in his entire class, the former Buckeye star figures to slot in as Detroit’s top corner entering his rookie season.
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The trio of Jeff Okudah, Desmond Trufant, and Justin Coleman represents a complete cornerback revolution by the Detroit Lions. This talented group hopes to turnaround a secondary that allowed the most passing yards in the NFL last season and was tied for nabbing the fewest interceptions.