Former Ohio State Buckeyes star’s new landing spot in the NFL may be his last chance to turn his career around
Every once in a while there’s a surefire NFL draft prospect that everyone thinks will work out and it just doesn’t.
That is the case for a former 2020 first-round draft pick that went No. 3 overall from Ohio State. CB Jeff Okudah had all of the goods coming out of college and that is why the Detroit Lions jumped on him with the third pick.
Since then, Okudah has yet to play a full season and has played in just 44 games with 31 starts in five seasons. Okudah is now landing with his fourth NFL team and it’s another shot to get his career on the right path. Okudah has signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, putting him back in the NFC after spending last season with the Houston Texans.
Jeff Okudah gets another opportunity with a terrific defensive coordinator Brian Flores
Okudah is going to have a shot to carve out a depth role with the Vikings and carve out a consistent role. As a rookie, a core injury only allowed him to play in nine games. Okudah suffered an Achilles injury in 2021 and only played in one game.
“As things currently sit, Okudah was signed as veteran depth to compete for CB3/4/5/6. Depending on what the contract looks like will tell you the confidence the Vikings have in him — especially since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah loves a good reclamation project — but there is a real chance he makes the roster as depth, as long as he plays special teams.” Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota
Okudah was a lockdown cornerback at Ohio State as a five-star recruit out of Texas. Over three seasons, Okudah recorded 84 tackles, 18 passes defended, and three interceptions. A terrific athletic profile at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds made Okudah the top cornerback prospect in 2020.
Since the injuries, Okudah has never been able to return to the level of play that we saw in Columbus. Now in his sixth season, time is running out for Okudah to turn his career around and be a legit contributor.
Opportunities only come so many times in the NFL, that’s why they say it stands for ‘Not for long’. Another great chance is on the table for Okudah.
