Redskins Saturday Spotlight: Seven-round mock, building an elite defense

Two years ago, Denzel Ward separated himself as the top cornerback in the 2018 NFL Draft class. In a stacked 2020 class, another Ohio State cornerback is mounting a similar rise.

Jeffrey Okudah entered the 2019 collegiate season as a potential riser, but it’s been impressive how quickly he’s taken it upon itself to crown the 2020 cornerback class. Through six games, he has three interceptions and three pass deflections, and he’s taken his game to another level.

Pro Football Network’s Matt Valdovinos detailed some of Okudah’s strengths in the quote below, highlighting the cornerback’s exciting blend of size and athleticism.

"I took a deep dive into Okudah’s film over the summer. I mentioned his eye-popping physical gifts when talking about his strengths. He stands at 6’0 and weighs in at 200 pounds with long arms. He may not be the biggest cornerback ever, but his size is more than adequate. To pair with his size and length, he has excellent athletic ability. Whether it’s his long speed or burst, Okudah has it in bunches. His physical gifts are best put on display when he sees the quarterbacks eyes and identifies where he’s throwing the ball. Okudah’s closing speed is some of the best I’ve ever seen."

Valdovinos mentioned ball skills as a rare weakness listed for Okudah, but with three interceptions already this season, it seems as though Okudah has remedied that issue. He’s a complete cornerback, and he’d be an immediate starter for the Redskins on the outside.