Big Board ranking: #13
Positional ranking: #1
Overview
Position: CB
College: Ohio State
Class: Junior
Age: 21
Measurables
Height: 6’1 1/8”
Weight: 205 lbs.
Arm length: 32 5/8”
Hand size: 9 1/8”
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 4.48 sec.
Vertical jump: 41.0”
Broad jump: 135.0”
Bench press: 11 reps
3-cone drill: N/A
Short shuttle: N/A
Strengths
Physical cornerback with top-end speed. Prototypical size and length. Dominant in press coverage. Fluid hips and movement skills. Quick to transition out of the press. Fights to breakup passes at the catch point. Accurate punching at the ball when beat. Great feet. Superb closing burst in coverage and against the run. Very aggressive and effective tackler. Decisive coming up to play the run. Big hitter when the opportunity presents itself. Tough and competitive. Fights to get off blocks and make a play. Mostly lined up at left cornerback but can play all over the formation. Very good hands. Plays the ball in the air and has the ability to turn defense into offense.
Weaknesses
Gets beat too easily on in-breaking routes. Sudden change of direction seems to give him issues despite quick feet. Slower recognizing route combinations in zone coverage. Sometimes allows too much separation when the pass rush doesn’t get home.
NFL Comparison
Aqib Talib
Conclusion
Overall, Okudah has all the tools to be a great all-around cornerback at the next level, but he isn’t without notable flaws, and I’m not sure he will be a pure eraser in coverage like most seem to expect. For me, Okudah is a tier below the blue chip trio of Isaiah Simmons, Chase Young, and Derrick Brown among defenders in the 2020 class.
Overhyped like he Revis. Top 3 would be extreme….
Let’s be real, if he didn’t go to Ohio State he would not be considered top 5 everywhere.
Lions should take a hard look.
Everyone says they will.