Potential trade-up targets for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 NFL Draft
By Evan Bachman
. CB. Ohio State. Jeff Okudah. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 48
With the Tom Brady signing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the most talked-about move of the offseason, but one way to make the offseason even more splashy would be trading up to secure the top cornerback prospect in recent memory.
Tampa Bay gave up 270.1 passing yards per game last season, which was 30th in the league, according to NFL.com. While safety is a bigger need for them than cornerback, adding Okudah would obviously still tremendously improve their secondary.
Ohio State has produced five first-round cornerbacks in the past five drafts including Bradley Roby, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley and Denzel Ward. That is an impressive list, but Okudah is better than all of them.
Jeff Okudah has the exact prototypical physical traits for the cornerback position. He has great size (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), long arms, and super athleticism. Coming into the season there was concern about his ball skills, but he definitely put those to rest this season with three interceptions and many other great plays on the ball. Ultimately, Okudah could come in right away and be the number one corner for almost any team in the NFL and has legitimate All-Pro level upside.
A trade all the way up to the third overall pick would be costly, but for a special prospect like Okudah, it could be worth it.