The Falcons are acquiring cornerback Jeff Okudah in a trade with the Lions, per ESPN’s Field Yates. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit is receiving a 2023 fifth-round pick in exchange for Okudah.
The 24 year old was the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft and had spent the past three seasons in Detroit. Okudah dealt with injuries in his first two season, as he played in just nine games as a rookie while dealing with a core muscle injury, In 2021, Okudah ruptured his achilles during Week 1, causing him to miss the rest of the season,
Last year, Okudah was healthy and started in 15 of the team’s 17 games. The cornerback totaled 73 tackles and one interception for the improved Lions defense.
Detroit recently signed defensive backs Emmanuel Moseley, Cameron Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to upgrade the secondary. As a result, Okudah’s starting spot appeared to be in jeopardy, leading to the trade.
In Atlanta, Okudah now joins a cornerback room that includes A.J. Terrell and veteran Casey Hayward. The Falcons also have the opportunity to pick up his fifth-year option, or to let Okudah play on the final year of his contract in 2023.
