Taken third overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, cornerback Jeff Okudah is running out of chances in the league.
After fizzling out with the Detroit Lions, Okudah is on his third team in as many years with the Minnesota Vikings and is widely labeled as a bust by Lions fans.
What hasn’t worked for the former Ohio State standout, once compared to Patrick Peterson?
“It’s hard to say without being in each building,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said at practice on July 28.
Considered outside of the starting cornerback trio to start the offseason, Okudah has seen plenty of work with the first team and is pushing third-year corner Mekhi Blackmon for the No. 3 corner spot after his career seemed to be on its last leg.
“In his time here, he’s been as diligent from on the field, off the field, training room, weight room. He’s always looking to do extra film work. I don’t know what’s happened in other buildings. I know that since he’s been here, it’s been great to coach him,” Flores added. “I think he’s getting more comfortable within the defense and what we’re gonna ask him to do. And he’s shown up positively, really in every way. I’m excited to watch him continue to improve. I think he’s got a lot of skill.”
Jeff Okudah Frustrates Justin Jefferson in Vikings Practice
While Okudah has garnered praise from Flores, he has also gotten under the skin of Justin Jefferson.
“He’s more of an aggressive corner. He has that speed as well, and he has that ability to really playmake and just be an annoying cornerback,” Jefferson said in jest during Vikings minicamps. “That’s what I like to call those types of corners, annoying cornerbacks, because they know how to be physical, they know how to get you off your route and not be able to have free access.”
As first-rounders coming out of the same 2020 draft class, Okudah and Jefferson have a history of facing off in the NFC North over the years that can be a benefit to both.
“It helps a lot, helps tremendously,” he said. “And that’s something I kind of thought about last week, thinking about the different times that I went up against him while he was in Detroit. Just being able to kind of be in the mix with him every single practice and get that hands-on feeling of him not wanting me to get free access, it’s frustrating and it’s difficult at times, but it definitely gets me ready for this upcoming season.”
Vikings CB Room is Defense’s Only Question
After signing Pro Bowl defensive tackle duo Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, the Vikings defensive front is garnering rave reviews coming out of training camp.
Dallas Turner has also been one of the brightest standouts after a modest rookie year. The Vikings know what they’re getting out of fellow edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, as well as inside linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr.
The talent on the defense was enough to convince safety Harrison Smith to return for another year, and with Josh Metellus signing a new contract, all the offseason business is handled.
So it seems.
The Vikings have made some riskier bets in the cornerback room, giving Philadelphia Eagles backup Isaiah Rodgers, a favorite of the coaching staff, all the runway for a starting spot across from Byron Murphy Jr.
Blackmon seemed to be the frontrunner for the starting job, but with Okudah challenging for first-team reps, it seems to be a competition that may not have a winner.
Last year, the Vikings took a longer look at their cornerback room before signing veteran Stephon Gilmore after the first preseason game.
A similar move could be on the horizon
