Articles:
TWENTYMAN: 5 takeaways from 2020 NFL Draft: https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-5-takeaways-from-2020-nfl-draft-okudah-swift-okwara
Lions' Okudah a rare top-5 cornerback draft pick. Here's how other CBs turned out
Lions: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/29/detroit-lions-jeff-okudah-top-cornerbacks-picks-nfl-draft-history/3031336001/
How Lions' NFC North foes stand after the draft: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/30/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-nfc-north/3045325001/
Lions mailbag, Part 1: Why not go after Markus Golden or Jadeveon Clowney?: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/30/detroit-lions-mailbag-part-1-why-not-go-after-markus-golden-or-jadeveon-clowney/3046937001/
Where Lions roster stands after draft, free agency; what players are still available
Lions: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/29/where-detroit-lions-roster-stands-after-draft-free-agency-what-players-still-available/3033562001/
How D'Andre Swift could alter the Lions' running back rotation by committee: https://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/36475/how-dandre-swift-could-alter-the-lions-running-back-rotation-by-committee
4 things I learned about the Lions from the 2020 NFL Draft: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/30/4-things-i-learned-about-the-lions-from-the-2020-nfl-draft/
Jeremiah Dinson evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides and path to the roster projection: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/30/jeremiah-dinson-evaluations-from-2020-nfl-draft-guides-and-path-to-the-roster-projection/
Recapping the Lions draft return from the Darius Slay trade: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/30/recapping-the-lions-draft-return-from-the-darius-slay-trade/
Over/under for Matthew Stafford's 2020 passing yards set quite high: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/30/over-under-for-matthew-staffords-2020-passing-yards-set-quite-high/
Hunter Bryant May Be Best Undrafted Free Agent from 2020 Draft Class: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-hunter-bryant-may-be-best-undrafted-free-agent
Lions' Offense Could Be Sleeping Giant in 2020: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-offense-could-be-sleeping-giant-in-2020
Why D'Andre Swift Could Actually Help Kerryon Johnson Be More Productive: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-dandre-swift-could-help-kerryon-johnson
2020 NFL Draft: Analyzing the play and scheme fit of all six first-round cornerbacks (PICK 3: DETROIT LIONS — CB JEFFREY OKUDAH, OHIO STATE: The Detroit Lions used the No. 3 overall pick to select Ohio State corner Jeffrey Okudah because they believe that he has all the skills to perform immediately as a press-man defender. The Lions’ defense finished the 2019 regular season with a 28th-ranked team coverage grade of 50.5 while playing 347 snaps of man coverage, the most of any defense in the NFL. And after their cornerbacks and safeties combined to allow 0.187 expected points added (EPA) per pass play along with the 107.7 passer rating on throws into their coverage — both of which ranked 30th among NFL secondaries — the Lions will be expecting their third overall pick to stop the bleeding in their pass defense. Okudah has the requisite size and length to play aggressive man coverage without the fear of getting beat. He allowed only 23 receptions on 426 coverage snaps in 2019 while his longest completion allowed went for only 28 yards. The Ohio State product held quarterbacks to a 41.6% completion percentage during his three-year career in Columbus, a figure that is tied for second in the nation among the 202 cornerbacks with at least 100 targets over that span, while his 54.8 passer rating allowed ranks eighth among that very same group. In man coverage alone, Okudah allowed just 25 receptions from 62 total targets over the last three seasons, giving up just 325 yards and only two touchdowns while coming away with one interception and 13 total forced incompletions. His 61.6 passer rating allowed in man coverage since 2017 ranks 20th among the 131 cornerbacks who saw at least 30 targets in man coverage over that period. A year after tying for a league-low seven interceptions, the Detroit Lions have now found the right man to perform as a shutdown man-coverage cornerback — one of the league’s most difficult roles.): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-analyzing-the-play-and-scheme-fit-of-all-six-first-round-cornerbacks
Matchups to watch coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft (MINNESOTA VIKINGS WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON VS. DETROIT LIONS WR JEFFREY OKUDAH: The Vikings’ usage pattern will determine how much of this matchup we see, as Jefferson played mostly in the slot at LSU last season, but he is the No. 2 option behind WR Adam Thielen in Minnesota. Okudah will play on the outside in Detroit with CB Justin Coleman manning the slot, but we could see Jefferson-Okudah battles on early downs. Jefferson is a nuanced route-runner, shifty in and out of his breaks for a bigger receiver, and he brings good body control on downfield throws. Okudah projects as the best man coverage corner in the class and he’s heading to one of the most man-heavy teams in the league, so he’ll be put under the microscope right away in one of the most challenging roles in all of football. Jefferson was one of just three receivers to average over 12.0 yards per target when targeted against single coverage last year, while Okudah had the No. 9 coverage grade when targeted in single coverage at 74.5.): https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-matchups-to-watch-coming-out-of-the-2020-nfl-draft
Best, worst fits of the draft (Best fits - CB Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions: Desmond Trufant and Okudah are a better cornerback tandem than what Detroit had last season. Okudah is a passionate, physical cornerback on the edge that is willing to fly in on run support. The Patriot way has called for depth and athleticism in the defensive backfield. The Lions took strides toward that goal.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2020-nfl-draft-joe-burrow-clyde-edwards-helaire-are-perfect-fits-while-four-first-round-picks-were-not/
2020 NFL Draft: Ranking every team's draft class; Packers picks raise questions, Ravens crush it (19. Lions: This was a boring draft for the Lions but that's a good thing. They stayed put, got Jeff Okudah, circled back in Round 2 and got our RB1, D'Andre Swift, and then added an athletic, arrow-pointing-up pass rusher in Julian Okwara. Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg add depth along the interior O-line and Quintez Cephus plays much faster than his slow 40 time at the combine. For a team that needs to win now, these were solid selections. Grade: B): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2020-nfl-draft-ranking-every-teams-draft-class-packers-picks-raise-questions-ravens-crush-it/
Ranking the QB-WR duos of 2020 (9. Matthew Stafford and Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions: Stafford is my leader in the clubhouse in the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year race after a back injury cost him half the 2019 season -- he was on pace to near his career highs in passing yards (5,038) and passing touchdowns (41). This is good news for Golladay -- who led the league with 11 receiving TDs last season -- entering the final year of his rookie contract.): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001112370/article/breesthomas-ryanjones-among-top-10-qbwr-pairings
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