BREAKING: Falcons Trade for Lions CB Jeff Okudah

Jeff Okudah was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Now, he's joining the Atlanta Falcons.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 11, 2023

In this story:

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have their partner for A.J. Terrell.

According to ESPN, the Falcons are acquiring cornerback Jeff Okudah from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick.

Okudah arrived in Detroit amid gigantic expectations as he was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He's coming off a solid third season after dealing with injuries early on, including having ruptured his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2021 season.

This past season, Okudah recorded 73 tackles, an interception and his first NFL touchdown.

The Lions were nearly forced to make a decision regarding Okudah's fifth-year option, but now it appears the Falcons will make that choice ... one that should lean towards opting in. Should the Falcons exercise his fifth-year option by May 1, Okudah will have two years left on his contract before hitting free agency in 2025. He will be paid just over $11.5 million in 2024.

With Okudah in Atlanta, it doesn't seem likely that the Falcons will use their No. 8 pick on a cornerback. Oregon's Christian Gonzalez and Illinois' Devon Witherspoon were seen as potential options with the top pick, but now Atlanta will be able to prioritize a different position with its first selection, either on the defensive or offensive line.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.

Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.

Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the SI.com team page here

Published Apr 11, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.