The NFL regular season will be coming to a close on Sunday, which means that some teams will shift their focus to next year's draft. One of the players who is expected to go early in the 2020 NFL Draft is Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.
Okudah has spent three seasons at Ohio State and he saved his best for 2019. The junior cornerback tallied 29 tackles, seven pass deflections, three interceptions, and a forced fumble this year.
Prior to this season, Okudah had failed to record an interception with the Buckeyes. Nevertheless, the tape he's put out during the 2019 season is enough to make him the most coveted cornerback in the 2020 NFL Draft.
What three teams would be the best landing spot for Okudah in next year's draft?
3. Carolina Panthers (Current Pick: No. 8)
The Carolina Panthers will be undergoing plenty of changes this offseason. While it's been a dreadful season for the Panthers, their pass defense has been a bright spot on the roster.
With that being said, Carolina could still use someone like Jeffrey Okudah to bolster the backend of their defense. The Panthers currently possess a cornerback group that includes James Bradberry, Ross Cockrell, and Donte Jackson.
Among them, Bradberry and Jackson are likely cornerstones in the secondary moving forward. Adding Okudah into the mix could give Carolina a talented cornerback trio for the foreseeable future.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (Current Pick: No. 6)
Earlier this season, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams. As a result, Jacksonville was left with some big shoes to fill at the cornerback position.
Ever since Ramsey was moved, the team has started A.J. Bouye, Tre Herndon, and D.J. Hayden at cornerback. Provided that, Jeffrey Okudah could form a dynamic duo in the secondary with Bouye.
If the Jaguars want to return to having a formidable defense, they have to address the secondary in next year's draft. That is why Okudah makes perfect sense for Jacksonville if he ends up falling to them in the first round.
1. New York Giants (Current Pick: No. 4)
Most fans of the New York Giants are unnerved that they now are a longshot to land Chase Young in next year's draft. As a consolation prize, the Giants could end up selecting Young's teammate at Ohio State in Okudah.
The Giants are extremely inexperienced at cornerback since the release of Janoris Jenkins in December. As a matter of fact, New York is starting two rookies in Deandre Baker and Corey Ballentine in the secondary.
While Jeffrey Okudah would be another inexperienced player joining the defense, he would easily become a starter in his rookie season. In the event that Young doesn't miraculously fall to the Giants, then Okudah is among the best players they could choose in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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