Redskins Saturday Spotlight: Top ten prospect big board in Round 1

Before the 2019 campaign, there were almost half a dozen collegiate cornerbacks vying for the top spot at their position, and they possessed a staggering consistency in their athleticism and length. No one expected one to separate from the others so relentlessly as Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah has done. But that’s what makes the NFL Draft so exciting.

Once a lingering prospect in the top five of various draft boards, Okudah has almost become the consensus No. 1 cornerback with his play in 2019. Others still possess comparable upside that qualify them for similar consideration, but Okudah has taken his game to new heights in 2019, to a degree that warrants his individual recognition.

Through nine games, 2019 has been Okudah’s most disruptive season to date. After notching zero interceptions in his first two years at Ohio State, he’s acquired his first three this season, and he has four pass deflections and a forced fumble to go with them.

With ball skills now added to Okudah’s resume, the Buckeyes’ standout has all the traits one could desire from their cornerbacks. He has 6-foot-1 length, a solid 200-pound frame, explosive closing burst, fluid hips, and a hungry mentality that all cornerbacks need to succeed at the NFL level. Okudah and Quinton Dunbar would quickly form one of the best cornerback duos in the NFC East, and quite possibly the NFC itself. But because this cornerback class is incredibly deep, one has to consider the value that might be lost by the Redskins, if they pick Okudah this high.