They didn’t get the trade they wanted, but the Lions got the player they wanted at third overall Thursday night: Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.
It’s the safe pick for Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia, ahead of a season in which their jobs are on the line.
Okudah, the highest-drafted corner this century, will be expected to contribute from Day 1 in Detroit. And contribute in a big way.
The Lions gave up the most passing yards in the NFL last season, and then they traded Darius Slay. They’ve since signed former Pro Bowl CB Desmond Trufant, but it’s Okudah who projects to be Slay’s replacement.
He’s everything Matt Patricia and the Lions like in a corner. He’s long, he’s physical and he excels in press-man coverage. He allowed a catch rate of just 39 percent and a passer rating of 46.8 in his junior season for the Buckeyes.
If Okudah can follow in Ramsey’s footsteps, the Lions will quickly reap the rewards.