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The Atlanta Falcons have a decision to make on cornerback Jeff Okudah this offseason - and the replacements available in the 2024 NFL Draft may decide for general manager Terry Fontenot.
Okudah's enjoyed a successful first season with the Falcons after being acquired via trade from the Detroit Lions in March, logging 41 tackles and three passes defended.
Across 10 games, Okudah's allowed 34 receptions on 358 coverage snaps, or one catch per every 10.5 snaps in coverage, and hasn't allowed a touchdown.
Still only 24 years old, the former No. 3 overall draft pick appears to be trending up ... but he's poised to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason.
Atlanta's expected to give starting corner A.J. Terrell a lengthy extension following the year and thus may not want to pay Okudah market value, putting his future firmly in question.
Should Fontenot choose to pursue a replacement in April's draft, there are plenty of capable options - and ESPN's latest mock has the Falcons capitalizing, as Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold gets the nod at No. 11 overall.
"The Falcons miss out on the top quarterbacks here and instead look to bolster the defense with my CB1," ESPN writes. "Arnold, a 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore, has five interceptions in 2023 while showing a physicality rarely seen from young cornerbacks in the run game.
"He's long and aggressive, and he has the ball skills to be a star opposite A.J. Terrell."
Arnold was initially recruited by Alabama as a safety, earning a five-star rating from 247sports but primarily ranking as a four-star.
The Tallahassee, Florida, native redshirted his first year in Tuscaloosa but wasted little time making an impact the season after, earning Freshman All-American honors after recording 45 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 11 games.
Arnold parlayed this success into a dominant 2023, tying for the SEC lead with five interceptions and 16 passes defended en route to being named a first-team AP All-American.
The 20-year-old Arnold ranked third on the Crimson Tide with 61 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, and added a team-high 11 pass breakups.
In these predictions, four quarterbacks - USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy - were already off the board, turning Atlanta away from a potential Desmond Ridder successor.
And so, the question then returns to Okudah's contract - and his recent play may be as much a factor as anything.
Per Pro Football Reference, Okudah's allowed 13 receptions for 240 yards on 19 targets over his past two appearances. Pro Football Focus currently has him graded as a 53.1 overall with a 49.2 coverage rating.
Okudah started off hot, giving up three total catches in his first four games, but he's begun fading. He was inactive in Sunday's 29-25 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an ankle injury and missed the season's opening three weeks with a separate ankle ailment.
The Falcons received strong play from rookie cornerback Clark Phillips III in place of Okudah, as he didn't allow a reception despite seeing seven targets.
That said, the 5-10 Phillips can also play nickel, and may be better suited aligning inside with Atlanta facing a similar free agency decision on starting nickel Dee Alford.
In essence, the picture surrounding the Falcons' cornerback room is rather murky - but should be much clearer come Apr. 25.
For now, the verdict on Okudah may be out ... and Arnold could just be the avenue Fontenot and staff choose to pursue on decision day.
More must-reads:
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