After meeting with the Vikings on Monday, former first-round cornerback Jeff Okudah is joining the team on a one-year contract, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Okudah, most recently with the Houston Texans, played in six games for the team, which reached the divisional round of the playoffs.
At 26 years old, Okudah was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2020. During his rookie year, he started six games out of nine total appearances, recording 47 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception.
A series of injuries limited him to just one game in 2021, but he rebounded in 2022, starting 15 games and finishing the season with career highs—73 tackles, one interception returned for a touchdown, and seven pass breakups.
Before joining the Texans, Okudah played one season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. He started nine games and played in 13, his second-most since being drafted. That season, he totaled 44 tackles and three pass breakups.
The Vikings’ signing of Okudah is seen as a low-cost move to add depth to their cornerback group while offering the former top draft pick an opportunity to revitalize his career under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. If successful, Okudah could provide value as a rotational corner and potentially bring in a compensatory draft pick if he performs well in Minnesota.
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