How Lions-Falcons commerce for Jeff Okudah may influence 2023 NFL Draft

With the lengthy and winding street to the 2023 NFL Draft coming to an in depth, we within the soccer media are beginning to hearth off a few of our hottest takes. Whether or not it’s the concept Will Anderson Jr. will not be one of many high go rushers within the class to Hendon Hooker as probably QB1, there may be an amazing sentiment that the draft itself simply must get right here.

Fortunately, we do have some precise information to debate. On Tuesday the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons agreed to a commerce involving cornerback Jeff Okudah. The Lions are sending the previous first-round choice to Atlanta in change for a 2023 fifth-round choice.

The transfer provides Okudah a recent begin within the NFC South, after struggling to remain within the beginning lineup with the Lions.

Past that, it may shake up the beginning of the 2023 NFL Draft. Right here’s how.

The Lions nonetheless have just a few totally different choices within the first spherical, together with CB

Early in draft season, earlier than NFL free company acquired underway, cornerback was some of the widespread positions addressed by the Lions in mock drafts.

Nonetheless, strikes made by Detroit throughout free company noticed issues shift across the Lions. With the additions of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, and Emmanuel Moseley in free company, including these gamers round Okudah appeared to point that Detroit would go in a distinct path with the sixth-overall choice.

That result in gamers akin to Jalen Carter, Tyree Wilson, and even Will Anderson Jr. being fashionable picks for the Lions.

Nonetheless, with the commerce of Okudah the door is again open to cornerback. Might this now be the touchdown spot for Christian Gonzalez out of Oregon? What about Devon Witherspoon from Illinois, who looks like the form of participant that Dan Campbell would like to have in his secondary?

In fact, the relative depth of the cornerback class may nonetheless see the Lions go in a distinct path, even with this commerce. If the board certainly sees 4 quarterbacks to begin the draft, Detroit may very well be taking a look at one in every of Carter or Anderson staring them within the face. Including a type of gamers at six, after which addressing cornerback with their choose at 18 (Joey Porter Jr. and Deonte Banks are choices at that time within the first spherical), brings an enormous injection of expertise to the protection for Detroit subsequent season.

This sort of strategy is one advocated by Jeff Risdon, who covers the Lions:

Both method, it appears just like the Okudah transfer brings CB again into focus, and provides the Lions an opportunity so as to add some defensive expertise in just a few weeks.

One thing you understand Campbell would like to see.

Atlanta at 8 can do actually something

I actually like this deal for Atlanta. I’m a fan of Jeff Okudah, however he had a bizarre 2022. Got here out the gate firing and appeared like he was placing all of it collectively, however then acquired benched and had his season ended unceremoniously. I’m a believer in Okudah’s instruments and assume he can construct on the early a part of his 2022 in Atlanta, with a recent begin.

Now as for Atlanta on the eighth spot within the NFL Draft, the door is fairly vast open for nearly something. The Okudah commerce, together with Casey Hayward nonetheless on the roster makes me consider they gained’t spend one other first spherical choose on an outdoor cornerback, however you by no means know. Atlanta might be of the assumption that the highest two cornerbacks, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez and Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, will likely be gone already (Detroit at 6 and Las Vegas at 7 are the most probably spots), which implies one of many high defensive linemen may fall to them at 8.

That is probably one of the best case situation for Atlanta. They signed DT David Onyemata in free company together with EDGE Kaden Elliss, however I don’t assume that ties them to not addressing the place within the draft. If, say Tyree Wilson falls to Atlanta at 8, that may be the right man to fit in Atlanta’s defensive position. Georgia’s Jalen Carter may fall to eight, and whereas having three defensive tackles may trigger an issue, Carter’s expertise may be far an excessive amount of to go up on. An attention-grabbing title to look at right here: Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. Atlanta nonetheless wants to handle their offensive line, with LG Jalen Mayfield not residing as much as potential. Many scouts consider that Skoronski is healthier at guard (I nonetheless assume he ought to begin at sort out) however in Atlanta, Skoronski can play left guard, and if Jake Matthews needs out (there’s a possible out in his contract on the finish of 2023 in line with Spotrac) Skoronski can slide again exterior.

Then there’s Bijan Robinson.

Sure, I do know concerning the worth of RBs and deciding on one this excessive within the draft. Nonetheless, you’ll be laborious pressed to discover a man as useful with the potential to be particular in a contemporary offense like Robinson. Cordarrelle Patterson will likely be 32 this season and the Falcons can get out from that contract in the event that they wished to. Tyler Allgeier is a tremendous again, however Robinson has the potential to be superb in that offense in the event that they wish to pull that set off.

The world is their oyster at 8, and Atlanta can do something they wish to at this level.