The Washington Commanders made several impressive additions to their defense this offseason. General manager Adam Peters won't hesitate to shake things up further if the right opportunities come along over the summer.
One area that could use more depth is the cornerback position. The starting three spots are seemingly locked up, but the rotation has significant questions to answer. Peters could let things play out, but this is no time for anything other than drastic action.
And there is a free agent still looking for work who is well-versed in the scheme Daronte Jones is projected to run.
Commanders could improve cornerback depth with Jeff Okudah signing
Veteran cornerback Jeff Okudah spent last season working with Jones during their time together on the Minnesota Vikings. While he only appeared in six games due to injury, his performances were solid if unspectacular. And looking at the options available to Washington, he may be an upgrade on anything outside of Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil, and free-agent signing Amik Robertson.
Okudah was a highly touted college prospect coming out of Ohio State, taken by the Detroit Lions at No. 3 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft with shutdown-caliber credentials. Injuries decimated his first two seasons, and these setbacks took away some of his dynamism in coverage. He's bounced around the league ever since, but he's still young enough to turn the tide in the correct environment.
There might be nowhere better than Washington.
The player and Jones already have a relationship. His work with defensive backs is renowned, and there wouldn't be any great pressure to be anything more than the fourth option. Amos, Sainristil, and Robertson seem entrenched in their respective roles. If the Commanders can find suitable depth, that should minimize complications.
Staying healthy is a massive stumbling block. He was placed on injured reserve with a concussion last season, which is concerning. Everything would need to be satisfactory during his medical assessments, but there is some merit in checking in to see where he is right now.
The Commanders may be content with what they have, especially if Quan Martin and Tyler Owens end up spending more time in the nickel. Having a more prolific defensive front seven should also benefit the secondary, but with Ahkello Witherspoon struggling to make the desired impact at minicamp, Peters should seriously consider the prospect of more help in the corner room.
Okudah is not a sure thing by any stretch, and if the Commanders were going to gamble, someone like Trevon Diggs could have a higher bounce-back upside. But this would be a cost-effective move if he's healthy enough to resume his career.
Time will tell, but the Commanders have enough salary-cap space to ensure nothing is off the table. Whether those plans include Okudah remains to be seen, but there are far worse avenues Washington can take.
And his previous connection to Jones only sweetens the pot.
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