Jeff Okudah is about to play for a fourth profession staff in 2025. The previous third total decide has agreed to a one-year cope with the Vikings, per his agent via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Okudah had other options on the table, per Schefter, but this move will allow him to return to the NFC North after starting his career with the Lions. The 26-year-old visited the Vikings Monday, so this news comes as little surprise. Okudah will now look to compete for a depth role on defense with Minnesota.
Expectations were high for the Ohio State product upon entering the NFL. Things did not go according to plan for much of his Lions tenure, however, with injuries limiting him to only 10 games across his first two seasons. Okudah managed to suit up for 15 contests in 2022, but during the subsequent offseason he was traded to the Falcons. Playing out the final year of his rookie contract, he made nine Atlanta starts.
During his first foray into free agency, Okudah took a one-year with the Texans worth $4.75M. The Grand Prairie, Texas, native suffered an injury in Week 1 and spent much of the campaign on injured reserve as a result. Okudah was thus limited to just six games for Houston, a team which has newly-extended Derek Stingley Jr. and 2024 second-rounder Kamari Lassiter atop the CB depth chart. It comes as no shock Okudah is on the transfer as soon as extra, once more taking a one-year pact within the course of.
The secondary was a key speaking level for the Vikings within the lead-in to free company. Byron Murphy was on observe to be on the of the highest corners to succeed in the market, however he wound up re-signing on a three-year, $54M pact. That contract (which may max out at $66M via incentives) will maintain Murphy in place as Minnesota’s high cowl man, and the staff has additionally added Isaiah Rodgers on a two-year deal. Tavierre Thomas — who has beginning expertise but in addition a protracted observe file of particular groups contributions — is within the fold as properly.
In the meantime, the likes of Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin and Fabian Moreau are all free brokers at this level. The Vikings might retain a number of of these veterans, and doing so would add additional to Okudah’s competitors for a 2025 roster spot.
