Why did the Lions trade Jeff Okudah to the Falcons How deal impacts Detroit Atlantas 2023 NFL Draft options
Why did the Lions trade Jeff Okudah to the Falcons How deal impacts Detroit Atlantas 2023 NFL Draft options
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The Lions have reshuffled their secondary in a big way during the 2023 NFL offseason, and they made another move to shake things up on Tuesday.The move involved giving the No. 3 overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft a fresh start.Detroit traded cornerback Jeff Okudah to the Falcons on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Field Yates and Adam Schefter. The Lions will receive a fifth-round pick in Minnesota Wild Jersey the 2023 NFL Draft in exchange for the 24-year-old cornerback.Comp update: Falcons traded a 2023 5th-round pick to the Lions for CB Jeff Okudah, per source. Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) Okudah had a rocky start to his career with the Lions. He only played in 10 games over his first two seasons and had a penchant for getting burned in coverage.NFL DRAFT:|That said, Okudah is coming off the best season of his young career. He recorded a career-high 73 tackles, one interception and seven pa s defenses while starting 15 games for Detroit, so the Falcons are certainly buying low on the top-five pick.And Okudah seemed happy that he was given a chance for a fresh start. Jeff Okudah (@jeffokudah) But why are the Lions trading Okudah? Here's what to know about Detroit's decision to move on from Okudah and what it could mean for their strategy in the 2023 NFL Draft.The Lions likely traded Okudah for a couple of reasons, the first of which was a simple numbers game.The Lions have added three key defensive backs in free agency: Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and CJ Gardner-Johnson. Sutton will be a starter at cornerback while it was expected that Moseley, who is coming off a torn ACL, would also compete for one of the jobs.Meanwhile, Gardner-Johnson played safety for the Eagles but has the versatility needed to play cornerback and in the slot. So, it's po sible if not likely that those three defensive backs would have been ahead of Okudah on the depth chart. That left him as the odd man out.With that in mind, it makes sense that the Lions would have Mikael Granlund Jersey wanted to get a longer-term a set in exchange for Okudah. He didn't appear to be part of their plans in 2023 and beyond, so it's hard to imagine that they would have picked up his fifth-year option worth in exce s of $11 million by May 1.However, a team like the Falcons who have a lot of cap space and are looking to supercharge their defense may view Okudah's option as a solid investment. As such, he carries more value for them than the Lions, and that may have impacted the value of the pick that Detroit got in exchange for Okudah.Sure, getting a fifth-round pick for a former top-five selection is le s than ideal. But if the Lions weren't sure that Okudah was going to play much in 2023, it makes sense that they would get an a set for him now as opposed to waiting for a potential compensatory pick.And for the Falcons, adding a 24-year-old cornerback who is coming off his best season while playing for what was largely a porous defense is a no-brainer.MORE: Of course, it's also po sible that the Okudah trade could be telling us something about the Lions' draft strategy. They have two first-round picks Nos. 6 and 18 overall and they should be positioned to land some defensive upgrades.A slew of cornerbacks could be in the mix for Detroit's first-round picks as well. Players like Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon were frequently mocked to the Lions before they signed several defensive backs during the offseason; they could resurface as options now that Okudah is gone.In particular, Gonzalez is a top player to watch with the No. 6 overall pick. If Will Anderson and Jalen Carter are off the board before the pick, one could make a case that Gonzalez is the best defensive player on the board given his size, athleticism and production. That would make him an intriguing option for Detroit.Meanwhile, if a player like Witherspoon or Joey Porter Jr. slips to No. 18, the Lions could take a swing on one of them. They could each be eased into the rotation as rookies before potentially taking over for Moseley who is on a one-year deal in 2024.Either way, the Lions now have more freedom to take the best player on the board with their first two selections. They may have had a logjam Darcy Kuemper Jersey at cornerback with Sutton, Moseley, Okudah and a top-20 pick at the position in 2023; but now, they have more room to draft a top-tier rookie and give him playing time.MORE: The Falcons' side of the trade is a bit simpler. They needed to add a young cornerback to pair with A.J. Terrell long-term. They got that in Okudah.Now, they don't have to worry about the position with their first-round pick. That will free them up to focus on upgrading their edge rush, which was always expected to be their top option with the No. 8 pick anyway.The Falcons will probably be hoping that a player like Anderson, Carter or Tyree Wilson slips to them. If one doesn't, then they will be able to turn their attention to the likes of Lukas Van Ne s and Myles Murphy as additions to their defensive line.Either way, Gonzalez should no longer draw consideration for the Falcons' top pick in wake of the Okudah trade. He was already just a fringe option anyway, but this should confirm that Atlanta's focus will be on the trenches at No. 8 overall.
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