Falcons Chasing Upside in Secondary with Lions' Jeff Okudah Trade

How does acquiring corner Jeff Okudah from the Detroit Lions change the Atlanta Falcons' draft plans and future outlook in the secondary?

The Atlanta Falcons' pursuit of adding talent continued Tuesday by trading for cornerback Jeff Okudah from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick.

But what's it all mean? Will Okudah start? Does it take the Falcons out of the race to draft a corner in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft?

It's important to understand where Okudah's at in his career.

Drafted No. 3 overall in 2020, Okudah battled injuries in each of his first two seasons, including a torn Achilles in the first game of 2021. He made seven starts in 10 games across the two campaigns.

As such, Okudah, 24, entered 2022 searching to prove why he was so highly thought of during the pre-draft process - and largely did.

A 15-game starter who missed time only due to a concussion, Okudah logged 73 tackles, seven passes defended, two tackles for loss and an interception; he allowed 46 receptions for 681 yards and one touchdown, per Pro Football Reference.

Opposing quarterbacks completed just under 60 percent of their passes when targeting Okudah and had a passer rating of 87.6.

So, Okudah proved to be a solid contributor in what was largely his first extended action as a professional.

In other words, Okudah is certainly worth the fifth-round capital cost ... but is "solid" worth $11.5 million?

That's the price Atlanta will take on should it pick up Okudah's fifth-year option, with the decision due May 1. If the Falcons decline as one would expect they will, Okudah's essentially on a one-year contract.

Thus, acquiring Okudah is largely a low-risk, high-reward option, but also comes with the understanding that it's not necessarily a long-term commitment.

The situation is similar to what the Falcons did earlier this offseason by signing cornerback Mike Hughes, another former first-round pick, to a multi-year contract but structured it to where they can move on after next season.

Atlanta has a star corner in A.J. Terrell, who's fifth-year option will almost certainly be picked up in the near future, keeping him on the team for at least two years.

However, after Terrell, there's plenty of uncertainty - albeit filled with promising young talent. Be it Okudah, Hughes, Darren Hall or Dee Alford, the Falcons have youth seeking to prove themselves as NFL starters.

There's also still veteran Casey Hayward, who could enter as the favorite to start opposite Terrell, but he missed the final 11 games of last season and only has one year left on his contract.

Thus, the trio of Hayward, Okudah and Hughes could all be off the books by 2024 - which means the Falcons are unlikely to be out of the cornerback market in the NFL Draft.

Perhaps No. 8 becomes a touch rich considering the bodies already present in the room, and Atlanta would certainly like if Okudah can prove to be a strong long-term option next to Terrell, but a one-year commitment that cost only a fifth-round selection likely won't drastically alter draft plans.

Regardless, the Falcons have remodeled their secondary with a pair of former first-round corners joining free agent signee and All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III to bring a blend of young-but-experienced talent.

If things work out, Atlanta could've landed Terrell's running mate for the next several years in Okudah at an affordable price ... but if not, the capital spent isn't much to bat an eye at.

As the Falcons look to soar to new heights in 2023, making moves that enhance the team's ceiling while not dramatically hurting the floor is critical - and the addition of Okudah accomplishes exactly that.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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