Atlanta Falcons will have the services of Jeff Okudah in the upcoming NFL season after a trade with Detroit Lions, who will keep a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
The @AtlantaFalcons are loading up. 👀@jeffokudah is ATL bound. pic.twitter.com/L5kFiW8Gws
— NFL (@NFL) April 11, 2023
The Lions selected Okudah with the third overall pick in the 2020 draft, but he struggled to stay healthy. In three seasons with Detroit, he barely appeared in 25 games and missed 25 due to injuries.
Heading into the fourth season of his rookie contract, Okudah will make $5.1 million and the Falcons have until May 1 to decide on his fifth-year option.
Atlanta will hope a change of scenery will give Okudah a fresh start and help shore up a pass defense that ranked among the NFL’s worst in 2022.
Only five teams had fewer interceptions than the Falcons’ 10 last season, while opposing quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 95.7, fourth-highest in the league.
In 15 games last season, Okudah had one interception, seven pass breakups, 73 tackles, including two for loss, and one forced fumble.