Not so long ago, it looked like the Detroit Lions had drafted a true generational talent at cornerback. Jeff Okudah looked like a superstar in the making at Ohio State, and taking him with the No. 3 pick looked like a no-brainer at the time.
It's been six full years since, and it's safe to say that everybody on the Okudah hype train has gotten off at this point. He can't seem to stay healthy, and it's become painfully evident that he'll never live up to his draft stock.
That's why, after another injury-riddled and disappointing season, it's far from a surprise to see that there has been little to no buzz around him in free agency. This offseason has taken a turn for the worse for him, as it might actually be the end of the line for him.
Doors Continue to Close on Jeff Okudah
Okudah spent this past season back in the NFC North. He suited up in six games for the Minnesota Vikings, registering 14 total tackles (12 solo) and one fumble recovery. He didn't start a single game, though, and has made just 12 combined appearances over the past two seasons.
Multiple concussions forced him to miss extensive time with Kevin O'Connell's team. Unfortunately, that's nothing new for a player who missed most of his rookie and sophomore campaigns with injuries and who has only played in more than ten games twice in his six-year career.
Even when he was healthy, the former Ohio State star was far from efficient for Brian Flores' defense. Despite playing just 93 snaps, he allowed 11 catches on 12 targets for 175 yards and one touchdown.
Opposing quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 146.5 when targeting him, and he allowed 15.9 yards per completion. And even though he didn't play enough snaps to be eligible for a ranking, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 32.4 and coverage grade of 35.7 are pretty self-explanatory.
Spotrac projects Okudah's next contract to be for one year and $989K. That tracks, but given his history of injuries and recent struggles, it's hard to believe someone will have the former No. 3 pick on their radar.
It seems like he can only hope to make the practice squad and prove that he can be healthy for a full season. Otherwise, we may have already seen the last of him in the National Football League.
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