Twitter Reacts to Lions Trading Okudah: Drafting CB High Was Disaster

Detroit Lions should have never drafted Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 overall pick.

The Detroit Lions should have never drafted cornerback Jeff Okudah. 

Ownership made the mistake of handing down a win-now edict that drastically shifted the plans of former general manager Bob Quinn. 

Instead of targeting a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, a position of need, the decision was made to select a player at a position that rarely succeeds being selected that high in the draft. 

Looking back, there is a reason Okudah was the first defensive back selected that high since Shawn Springs back in 1997. 

Most teams understand that a young defensive back needs time to develop. 

Unfortunately for Okudah, injuries derailed his development. The organization also pivoted and brought in a new front office and coaching staff, making his departure that much more likely, given his play out on the field did little to quiet critics. 

This offseason, general manager Brad Holmes and the coaching staff made a concerted effort to upgrade the secondary, adding three defensive backs in free agency, increasing the speculation the 24-year-old was a trade candidate ahead of the draft. 

"We just needed to get better there. We’re just, we’re very young at that position, so to add some guys with some more experience, to add some guys with more versatility, (was critical for the defense) said Holmes. "But, we just wanted to get better there, and we still got some young guys that are still growing, but obviously, that was an area of emphasis and it will continue to be."

Here is a sample of the reaction online to the Lions moving on from a former first-round pick. 

He certainly did not meet expectations so he was a bad pick but he was an average player, I suppose.

— Leo Monterosso (@LittleOlMe97) April 11, 2023

Brad Holmes believes that $5,000,000 and a 5th round pick is more valuable than one year of Jeff Okudah's services. #onepride https://t.co/riDefS63tE

— Michael Luchies (@michaelluchies) April 11, 2023

Jeff Okudah is one of the biggest busts in Detroit Lions history. Brad Holmes moving off all deadweight. Poised for their first division title since 1993. #OnePride

— Adham Beydoun (@AdhamBeydoun) April 11, 2023

here’s a couple clips of “#3 overall pick” Jeff Okudah getting dusted by the jets WR5 Jeff Smith pic.twitter.com/vYLCdkszbC

— AMONG US ST BROWN (@That1LionsFan) April 11, 2023