GAME 2023 NFL Draft Thread

List of QB’s the Lions will play this season following the draft:

Justin Fields - L x2
Jordan Love - W/L
Kirk Cousins - W/L
Desmond Ridder - W
Bryce Young - W
Russell Wilson - L
Jimmy Garoppolo - L
Mahomes - L
Justin Herbert - L
Derek Carr - W
Lamar Jackson - L
Dak Prescott - W
Geno Smith - L
Baker Mayfield - W
Looks about right.
 
Yeah, none of that changes the fact he was playing very well last year before his concussion. Go ahead and google it, there are plenty of articles outlining exactly what I'm saying. Even when you count his post-concussion games when his play fell off a cliff, his numbers were dramatically better than what you're talking about.

Maybe you're right about the DL and it was all injuries, we'll see. I just know an elite pass rush gets teams further than a good complimentary RB and a good off-ball LB. If it works this year and you win the division and make a deep playoff run, that's awesome, but you didn't position yourself very well beyond that by wasting 2 first rounders.
Okudah had good games against the run last year, but there is a reason Detroit got rid of him and why he only got a 5th round pick in return. You mention games where star WRs were held to minimum yardage, as if the Lions had Okudah shadowing #1 WRs all over the field. That never happened. Hell, Detroit literally had passing down packages where Okudah was taken off the field, as well as games where he was benched in the 2nd half.

I LOVED the Okudah pick. I couldn't care less that I am a Michigan fan and he played for Ohio State. Once you get to the NFL, that goes out the window. Taylor Decker and Jonah Jackson are both OSU guys and have excelled for the Lions. Okudah has been a massive flop and truthfully, he should move to safety, where he could help support against the run, as he can't cover anyone in the NFL.
 
Oh snap.

View attachment 100977

The Norris had a nice draft (minus the Queens 😂)
NOOOOOO!!!! I'd rather have Prisco give us a F. That guy is a train wreck. I loved hearing the words from Herbstreit and few other analysts who were former players saying Detroit had a tremendous draft.

I just hope and pray Christian Gonzalez is a flop. If he turns into an all pro CB. That will be a tough one to take😂
 
Official NFL fan base rankings post draft:

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Okudah had good games against the run last year, but there is a reason Detroit got rid of him and why he only got a 5th round pick in return. You mention games where star WRs were held to minimum yardage, as if the Lions had Okudah shadowing #1 WRs all over the field. That never happened. Hell, Detroit literally had passing down packages where Okudah was taken off the field, as well as games where he was benched in the 2nd half.

I LOVED the Okudah pick. I couldn't care less that I am a Michigan fan and he played for Ohio State. Once you get to the NFL, that goes out the window. Taylor Decker and Jonah Jackson are both OSU guys and have excelled for the Lions. Okudah has been a massive flop and truthfully, he should move to safety, where he could help support against the run, as he can't cover anyone in the NFL.

There are more out there like this. I'm not saying he was an all-pro, but he was showing signs of why he was a top 5 pick. If he stays healthy, I think he has a great career. Considering under 15% of 5th round picks ever actually become starters, I'd say Atlanta got the better end of that trade.
 

There are more out there like this. I'm not saying he was an all-pro, but he was showing signs of why he was a top 5 pick. If he stays healthy, I think he has a great career. Considering under 15% of 5th round picks ever actually become starters, I'd say Atlanta got the better end of that trade.
You are pulling articles from one or two games at the beginning of the year. He struggled throughout the entire year and the concussion didn't happen until week 11 or 12. He was already being alternated with Mike Hughes in packages by then. He was benched in the 2nd half of games.

Those articles are truly wishful thinking from Detroit Lions websites. To give up a career 121.1 QB rating on routes run at you is next to impossible to do. That is like treating every QB we faced as if they are Aaron Rodgers from 2011, when he set the NFL record for the highest QB rating in NFL History with a 122.

As I said -- I've been a season ticket holder for the Lions, I watch each and every Detroit Lions game. Okudah simply cannot hold up in a system where it requires man coverage. I honestly think you will see him change to Safety at some point. Only way I see him being successful in the Atlanta system is if they run overwhelming majority zone coverage. I don't follow Atlanta close enough to know if that is what they do.
 

There are more out there like this. I'm not saying he was an all-pro, but he was showing signs of why he was a top 5 pick. If he stays healthy, I think he has a great career. Considering under 15% of 5th round picks ever actually become starters, I'd say Atlanta got the better end of that trade.
The first month of the season was what Lions fans were hoping to see out of him, as he helped shut down Justin Jefferson in Week 3 (three catches, 14 yards). However, that flash was fairly short-lived. The following week, he and the entire Lions secondary was picked apart by Geno Smith, and his game never fully recovered.
By the end of the season, Okudah had become enough of a coverage liability, though, that he was benched towards the end of the year in favor of Mike Hughes—a cornerback they did not retain in free agency. (Hughes is with the Falcons now. - Ed.)


This is from the Falcons website talking about the trade for Jeff Okudah. The part I didn't realize was -- The guy who replaced him in our starting lineup was also let go of by the Lions and is on the Falcons now too.
 
The first month of the season was what Lions fans were hoping to see out of him, as he helped shut down Justin Jefferson in Week 3 (three catches, 14 yards). However, that flash was fairly short-lived. The following week, he and the entire Lions secondary was picked apart by Geno Smith, and his game never fully recovered.
By the end of the season, Okudah had become enough of a coverage liability, though, that he was benched towards the end of the year in favor of Mike Hughes—a cornerback they did not retain in free agency. (Hughes is with the Falcons now. - Ed.)


This is from the Falcons website talking about the trade for Jeff Okudah. The part I didn't realize was -- The guy who replaced him in our starting lineup was also let go of by the Lions and is on the Falcons now too.
The underlined part happened after his concussion when his play fell off a cliff, which happened in the first half of their 10th game, so he was healthy and good for a little over half the year. Here are some more examples:


Late October vs. the Cowboys when he was the highest rated player on the team.


"After two injury-riddled seasons to start his career, the 2022 season was a critical one for Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah. And for a big portion of it, he played quite well. Then a concussion cost him the Thanksgiving Day game on a short week, and it was all downhill from there."


"PFR ranked him among the top 24-33 cornerbacks last season in the site’s Approximate Value metric. Others within the group included Carlton Davis, Stephon Gilmore and Jaycee Horn. Okudah ranked 40th among cornerbacks in 2022 in Sports Info Solutions’ Total Points Saved metric. All of these metrics basically point to the Falcons acquiring a viable starting cornerback and a seemingly ascending player. — Holder"


"Drafted No. 3 overall in 2020, Okudah battled injuries in each of his first two seasons, including a torn Achilles in the first game of 2021. He made seven starts in 10 games across the two campaigns. As such, Okudah, 24, entered 2022 searching to prove why he was so highly thought of during the pre-draft process - and largely did."


There are plenty more out there that echo the same sentiment: Overall, he was playing very well until his concussion. Detroit had no intention of picking up his option so I guess getting something is better than getting nothing, but given what they have in the defensive backfield after this coming season, it wouldn't have been the worst thing to keep him on and see if he could build off last year.
 
List of QB’s the Lions will play this season following the draft:

Justin Fields
Jordan Love
Kirk Cousins
Desmond Ridder
Bryce Young
Russell Wilson
Jimmy Garoppolo
Mahomes
Justin Herbert
Derek Carr
Lamar Jackson
Dak Prescott
Geno Smith
Baker Mayfield
I see 11-12 wins for the Lions. Draft success leads to OTF performance.
 
The underlined part happened after his concussion when his play fell off a cliff, which happened in the first half of their 10th game, so he was healthy and good for a little over half the year. Here are some more examples:


Late October vs. the Cowboys when he was the highest rated player on the team.


"After two injury-riddled seasons to start his career, the 2022 season was a critical one for Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah. And for a big portion of it, he played quite well. Then a concussion cost him the Thanksgiving Day game on a short week, and it was all downhill from there."


"PFR ranked him among the top 24-33 cornerbacks last season in the site’s Approximate Value metric. Others within the group included Carlton Davis, Stephon Gilmore and Jaycee Horn. Okudah ranked 40th among cornerbacks in 2022 in Sports Info Solutions’ Total Points Saved metric. All of these metrs basically point to the Falcons acquiring a viable starting cornerback and a seemingly ascending player. — Holder"


"Drafted No. 3 overall in 2020, Okudah battled injuries in each of his first two seasons, including a torn Achilles in the first game of 2021. He made seven starts in 10 games across the two campaigns. As such, Okudah, 24, entered 2022 searching to prove why he was so highly thought of during the pre-draft process - and largely did."


There are plenty more out there that echo the same sentiment: Overall, he was playing very well until his concussion. Detroit had no intention of picking up his option so I guess getting something is better than getting nothing, but given what they have in the defensive backfield after this coming season, it wouldn't have been the worst thing to keep him on and see if he could build off last year.
I watched every game. How many did you watch? I watched AJ Brown torch him deep for like a 50 yard gain. I watched Waddle and Tyreek Hill go for almost 300 yards receiving. I watched a no name game on the Jets beat him deep for 50 yards. DJ Moore for almost 50 yards.

His best games with Detroit were when we played him up at the line of scrimmage and he helped support the run. In 3 years, the guy only had 8 or 9 pass defensed.

I will tell you this -- IF teams saw Okudah as this up and coming CB -- the LAST THING the Lions would have got for him was a 5th round pick when we ATE ALMOST HIS ENTIRE SALARY. Teams would have been lining up for him.
 
I watched every game. How many did you watch? I watched AJ Brown torch him deep for like a 50 yard gain. I watched Waddle and Tyreek Hill go for almost 300 yards receiving. I watched a no name game on the Jets beat him deep for 50 yards. DJ Moore for almost 50 yards.

His best games with Detroit were when we played him up at the line of scrimmage and he helped support the run. In 3 years, the guy only had 8 or 9 pass defensed.

I will tell you this -- IF teams saw Okudah as this up and coming CB -- the LAST THING the Lions would have got for him was a 5th round pick when we ATE ALMOST HIS ENTIRE SALARY. Teams would have been lining up for him.
Waddle and Tyreek torched everybody, and his supporting cast was worst in the league, so I'm not sure how you're pinning that entirely on him.

Also, you didn't watch AJ Brown torch him for 50 yards because that play never happened. For a detailed analysis of Okudah vs. Brown that game, see:


"I had Okudah on the hook for three completions allowed during the game on plays where he was clearly the person in coverage. One was an early third-down pass to A.J. Brown where Okudah played too far off and gave up the 10-yard conversion. The only other time Brown caught a ball with Okudah in coverage, No. 1 tackled him immediately for a loss of a yard. The officials generously spotted the ball back at the original line of scrimmage even though Brown never sniffed that progress."

Further info on that game:

"Against Devonta Smith, who was his primary coverage mark most of the game, Okudah did not allow a single completion on four attempts, including a pass defended on an early third down. Twice on the Eagles’ opening drive, Hurts wanted to throw to Smith but Okudah had him locked down. Hurts eventually stopped looking there, and Okudah deserves some credit for that alteration to the Eagles’ offense."

Also, the "no-name" on the Jets was Jeff Smith, and it was 16 yards, not 50.

I know you are deadset in your beliefs on the Lions making the right choices (like Rob and the 1st round picks), but that wasn't some "we're so grateful to get even a 5th round pick" situation. Atlanta saw a talented guy they could pair with an elite CB they already had and threw out a pick and Detroit took it. It's very similar to the Swift situation - when healthy, you have a potentially great player. It's just a matter of being healthy, and both of those two predated Campbell and the GM so they got rid of them. Happens all the time in this league.
 
I see 11-12 wins for the Lions. Draft success leads to OTF performance.
.500 ±2 wins this year.

If they did have a successful draft this year, true results won't show for another year or two.
 
Waddle and Tyreek torched everybody, and his supporting cast was worst in the league, so I'm not sure how you're pinning that entirely on him.

Also, you didn't watch AJ Brown torch him for 50 yards because that play never happened. For a detailed analysis of Okudah vs. Brown that game, see:


"I had Okudah on the hook for three completions allowed during the game on plays where he was clearly the person in coverage. One was an early third-down pass to A.J. Brown where Okudah played too far off and gave up the 10-yard conversion. The only other time Brown caught a ball with Okudah in coverage, No. 1 tackled him immediately for a loss of a yard. The officials generously spotted the ball back at the original line of scrimmage even though Brown never sniffed that progress."

Further info on that game:

"Against Devonta Smith, who was his primary coverage mark most of the game, Okudah did not allow a single completion on four attempts, including a pass defended on an early third down. Twice on the Eagles’ opening drive, Hurts wanted to throw to Smith but Okudah had him locked down. Hurts eventually stopped looking there, and Okudah deserves some credit for that alteration to the Eagles’ offense."

Also, the "no-name" on the Jets was Jeff Smith, and it was 16 yards, not 50.

I know you are deadset in your beliefs on the Lions making the right choices (like Rob and the 1st round picks), but that wasn't some "we're so grateful to get even a 5th round pick" situation. Atlanta saw a talented guy they could pair with an elite CB they already had and threw out a pick and Detroit took it. It's very similar to the Swift situation - when healthy, you have a potentially great player. It's just a matter of being healthy, and both of those two predated Campbell and the GM so they got rid of them. Happens all the time.
The ONLY reason we got a 5th round pick is because we are eating the majority of his salary.



Here is the no name guy beating him deep for a "16 yard catch" or 50 yards like I said.

I could go and post an entire list of these deep balls completed on him if you'd like. There are TONS of them -- that's how QB's have a 122 QB rating on him. No one in the Lions secondary was beat deep more than Okudah and that is impressive to say, as the Lions WERE HORRIBLE against the pass.

And the Swift and Okudah situations are NOTHING alike. Swift performed when he was on the field, but couldn't stay healthy. Okudah did not. This isn't a coaching staff wanting "their own guys" -- a lockdown CB is arguably the most important position in the pass happy NFL. We have a former CB as our DC, who is known for getting the most out of his CB's. Yet we still traded him away from nothing. That should tell you how much they thought of Okudah as a player.
 
Waddle and Tyreek torched everybody, and his supporting cast was worst in the league, so I'm not sure how you're pinning that entirely on him.

Also, you didn't watch AJ Brown torch him for 50 yards because that play never happened. For a detailed analysis of Okudah vs. Brown that game, see:


"I had Okudah on the hook for three completions allowed during the game on plays where he was clearly the person in coverage. One was an early third-down pass to A.J. Brown where Okudah played too far off and gave up the 10-yard conversion. The only other time Brown caught a ball with Okudah in coverage, No. 1 tackled him immediately for a loss of a yard. The officials generously spotted the ball back at the original line of scrimmage even though Brown never sniffed that progress."

Further info on that game:

"Against Devonta Smith, who was his primary coverage mark most of the game, Okudah did not allow a single completion on four attempts, including a pass defended on an early third down. Twice on the Eagles’ opening drive, Hurts wanted to throw to Smith but Okudah had him locked down. Hurts eventually stopped looking there, and Okudah deserves some credit for that alteration to the Eagles’ offense."

Also, the "no-name" on the Jets was Jeff Smith, and it was 16 yards, not 50.

I know you are deadset in your beliefs on the Lions making the right choices (like Rob and the 1st round picks), but that wasn't some "we're so grateful to get even a 5th round pick" situation. Atlanta saw a talented guy they could pair with an elite CB they already had and threw out a pick and Detroit took it. It's very similar to the Swift situation - when healthy, you have a potentially great player. It's just a matter of being healthy, and both of those two predated Campbell and the GM so they got rid of them. Happens all the time in this league.
Okudah also got beat on Darnold’s 47-yard pass to DJ Moore on the same series, when he gave Moore too much cushion on third-and-13

I tried to post the video, but it wouldn't let me for some reason. It keeps changing to DJ Chark's 48 yard catch?
 
Atlanta saw a talented guy they could pair with an elite CB they already had and threw out a pick and Detroit took it.
You truly think Detroit didn't call the entire league to see what they could get for Okudah? Come on. You are smarter than that. On top of that -- Detroit had to pay 1/3 of his salary to facilitate the deal.
 
I think Swift will win us the division.
Philly could win their division if they didn't even use a starting RB. If Jalen Carter pans out -- their defense is going to be tough.
 
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