Poll: Was Drafting Jeff Okudah a Mistake?
The Detroit Lions are struggling mightily to establish their identity on defense.
To open the 2020 NFL season, Detroit's defense has blown two double-digit leads, and the 0-2 start has put the entire regime on the hot seat.
NBC Sports NFL analyst Peter King wrote in his latest "Football Morning in America" column, "The most troublesome thing about the Lions is that Patricia was considered a brilliant defensive mind and tactician in New England, and he just can’t get the defense right in Detroit."
With higher expectations placed on this season, the selection of cornerback Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 overall pick has become that much more difficult to comprehend.
By all accounts, defensive backs require time to develop, and based on Okudah's lackluster debut, Detroit should not expect significant contributions this season from the ex-Buckeyes defensive back.
If the win-now mandate delivered by ownership was indeed serious, selecting a developmental player that high in the draft makes little to no sense.
A report surfaced Monday that during April's NFL Draft, general manager Bob Quinn selected Okudah despite Patricia and other members of the staff wanting to select another player.
"Obviously, we usually don’t talk about any of that stuff," Patricia responded when asked Monday about the report. "We like to keep that stuff internal. But, since that is so blatantly not even close to true, I would like just to make sure that, that is not a true statement at all."
It is not like defensive tackle Derrick Brown or linebacker Isaiah Simmons has lit the world on fire, either.
But, you can look to other cornerbacks selected after Okudah and see more productivity at this point in the season.
The Jaguars' CJ Henderson, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 draft, earned the best Pro Football Focus grade for any starting corner in Week 1 of the season.
Atlanta's AJ Terrell, the No. 16 overall pick this past April, was the highest-rated Falcons defender in Week 2.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs' L’Jarius Sneed, the No. 138 overall pick in this year's draft, leads the league in interceptions.
Okudah was the worst-rated defender on the Lions in Week 2, and now ranks 98th out of 99 qualifying players at the cornerback position.
Do you think Detroit should have drafted a quarterback, a defensive lineman or a different defensive back with the third overall pick in this year's draft?
Vote and comment below.
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