Falcons acquire CB Jeff Okudah from Lions for fifth-round pick: Source

By Jeff Howe, Josh Kendall, Colton Pouncy and Larry Holder

The Lions are trading cornerback Jeff Okudah to the Falcons, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The Lions will receive a 2023 fifth-round pick in exchange for Okudah, a league source confirmed.
• Okudah spent the past three seasons with the Lions collecting two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a forced fumble in 25 games.
• The Lions had until May 2 to decide whether to execute Okudah’s fifth-year option.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What this means for the Falcons

The Falcons figured to be in the market for a cornerback early in the upcoming draft, even as high as No. 8. This deal would seem to preclude that, and a fifth-round pick this year as compensation is a great deal for Atlanta.

Okudah, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft, could start right away for the Falcons, or, if veteran Casey Hayward returns from a torn pectoral injury at full strength, Okudah could serve as the third cornerback in a rotation while familiarizing himself with Atlanta’s system. The Falcons already had signed former Lion and former first-round pick Mike Hughes in free agency, and Hughes is expected to have the first shot at the starting nickel position. — Kendall

Why the Lions made the move

When the Lions signed two cornerbacks in free agency, you had to wonder what it meant for Okudah’s future. The former No. 3 overall pick has not lived up to expectations in his short career, though a lot of that has been out of his control due to injuries. Still, though, the Lions had a deadline of May 2 to decide whether to pick up Okudah’s fifth-year option — priced around $11.5 million. That’s a lot of money for an unproven corner entering his fourth season. Instead of keeping him around to compete for a starting job, the Lions opted to move him ahead of the 2023 draft for a fifth-round pick. Not a total surprise, but still a rather unceremonious exit for a player once drafted to be a cornerstone. — Pouncy

Okudah’s 2022 rebound season

The 2020 No. 3 overall pick started showing promise in his first near-full season in 2022. He yielded an 87.6 opposing passer rating, via Pro Football Reference, allowing a 59.7 completion percentage when targeted with one interception and one touchdown allowed in 15 games. That’s a significant improvement after his 2020 rookie season, where he surrendered a 77.4 completion percentage and an opposing 118.0 passer rating. Okudah suffered a ruptured Achilles in Week 1 of the 2021 season.

PFR ranked him among the top 24-33 cornerbacks last season in the site’s Approximate Value metric. Others within the group included Carlton Davis, Stephon Gilmore and Jaycee Horn. Okudah ranked 40th among cornerbacks in 2022 in Sports Info Solutions’ Total Points Saved metric.

All of these metrics basically point to the Falcons acquiring a viable starting cornerback and a seemingly ascending player. — Holder

Backstory

The Lions have spent this offseason remaking their secondary and have signed cornerbacks Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Sutton spent his first six seasons in Pittsburgh, the Steelers used Sutton at safety, nickel and as an outside corner — where he projects in this Lion’s defense.

Moseley is recovering from a torn ACL and the Lions were able to sign him for just $6 million.

Gardner-Johnson is expected to play the nickel position in defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense.

Required reading

(Photo: Daniel Bartel / USA Today)