With The First Pick
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2020 NFL Draft: Jeffrey Okudah a CB prospect for the decades

By Jeremiah Bogan

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a fourth down strop during the fourth quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Jeff Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a fourth down strop during the fourth quarter of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 56-27. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Terren Encalade #5 of the Tulane Green Wave catches a long pass in the second quarter as Jeffrey Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes defends at Ohio Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Terren Encalade #5 of the Tulane Green Wave catches a long pass in the second quarter as Jeffrey Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes defends at Ohio Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Jeffrey Okudah possesses very good height and adequate weight for his position, slender athletic build with very good length. The class’ top cornerback has very good athletic ability translates to elite foot speed with elite change of direction, and elite hip fluidity needed to be a lockdown corner. Okudah displays very good mental processing in both man and zone coverage allowing routes to develop so he can properly leverage them.

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Okudah wins in press coverage with very good line of scrimmage abilities due to his patience. His patience allows him to trust his elite footwork and mirror all releases to put him in good position from the start of the play.

He uses a smooth kick slide to cut off receivers on vertical releases which allows him to close the space and squeeze them to the sideline, limiting the room for error the quarterback has. Transitions seamlessly in all phases of routes with elite hip fluidity that allows him to mirror route stems and play tight to receivers at the top of the break.

He displays elite footwork that is consistently balanced, allowing him to show off his explosive change of direction abilities once he diagnoses the route. His very good click and close abilities are evident in his comfort in off coverage to let the routes develop and trusting his elite burst out of breaks to close on the ball.

This patience in off coverage allows him to effectively break on routes in the quick game due to comfort reading his keys in the first couple steps. Once the ball is in the air, he uses is great arm length to consistently disrupt receivers at the catch point and make plays on the football. Solid in the run game when he is asked to respond or trigger in the boundary as a primary force player. A solid tackler in space when tasked with limiting yards after the catch.

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