NY Giants football: Top 5 options for the 4th pick in the draft
By Matt Clark
3. Jeff Okudah
The only NY Giants cornerback with an interception in 2019 was Janoris Jenkins, who had four. Unfortunately for the Giants, Janoris Jenkins was cut by the team in week 15 of the season after making insensitive comments to a fan on social media.
As a result, the Giants could look to add to their cornerback corps in this year’s draft, after adding Deandre Baker in the first round and Corey Ballentine in the sixth round of last year’s draft. This is in addition to the 2018 third-round supplemental draft pick Sam Beal playing for the first time last season.
If the Giants choose to add to their cornerback group with the fourth overall pick, Jeff Okudah from Ohio State University would be the perfect fit. Okudah possesses elite man coverage unlike few cornerbacks to ever enter the league.
In addition to his excellent cover skills, Okudah has elite quickness, a high football IQ, is physical and has very fluid hips. His recovery skills in coverage are extremely advanced, he possesses great body control and excellent hands.
The 6’1″ and 200-pound Okudah possesses excellent leadership skills and is an extremely driven and self-motivated player. He is lauded to be the best cornerback draft prospect to come into the league since Jalen Ramsey, who along with Patrick Peterson, Okudah draws the most comparisons to.
While Okudah has the mix of size and ability to potentially become the NFL’s best cornerback, the Giants may not end up announcing him as their fourth pick in the 2020 draft. Part of this is due to the expectation of the Detroit Lions to select him one pick before the Giants. The other reason is the fact that the Giants recently spent draft capital in the previous draft and may see other areas of need as more pressing than cornerback.