The only Detroit Lions defensive back to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was future Hall of Famer Lem Barney in 1967, the first year that award was given out around the league. Could Ohio State 's Jeff Okudah follow in Barney's footsteps this year? The third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is +2000 on the William Hill sportsbook moneyline odds.
A player from Ohio State has won Defensive Rookie of the Year three times in the past four seasons: 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa in 2019, Saints cornerback Marcus Lattimore in 2017 and Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa in 2016. Decent chance that OSU trend continues considering Okudah is among the favorites and Washington defensive end Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick, is the clear-cut +300 betting favorite.
Okudah was ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in the Class of 2020 via the CBS Sports Big Board and clearly the top-ranked cornerback. Detroit had a major need after trading former Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay to Philadelphia in March for third- and fifth-round picks in this year's draft.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Okudah was a unanimous first-team All-American last year with the Buckeyes and had the best broad jump and tied for best vertical among cornerbacks at this year's combine. Okudah's size and leaping ability are ideal for Matt Patricia's scheme, which calls for a ton of press coverage on the outside. Okudah should start opposite free-agent addition Desmond Trufant.
Okudah was the sixth cornerback taken in the Top 5 of the NFL Draft this century and first in the Top 3. The last was Cleveland taking Ohio State's Denzel Ward at No. 4 overall in 2018, and he has become a very good player. The Lions got Okudah signed this past Monday.
The last Detroit player overall to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was tackle Ndamudkong Suh in 2010. The Lions are 1.5-point favorites on the NFL odds for Week 1 vs. the visiting Chicago Bears.
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