ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions’ draft class is so well-liked, they actually have top-five candidates for rookie of the year on both sides of the ball.

Of course, Jeff Okudah was taken third overall -- higher than anyone has taken a cornerback since 1997 -- so it’s no surprise he’s a favorite. He’s opened at 20-1 to win defensive rookie of the year, according to BetOnline. That trails only Washington defensive end Chase Young (5-1), Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (8-1), Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray (14-1) and Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (14-1).

No Lions player has won defensive rookie of the year since Ndamukong Suh, the last player they took with a top-three pick. Suh went second overall in the 2010 draft, then ripped the league for 10 sacks and 66 tackles. Both still stand as career highs. He forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, picked off a pass -- he even scored one touchdown, making it one of the best rookie efforts by a defensive player in club history.

Now, Detroit has another top-three pick who is facing some lofty expectations despite the difficulties of playing cornerback as a rookie. Just two corners have won rookie of the year in the last 20 years: Kansas City’s Marcus Peters in 2015 and New Orleans’ Marshon Lattimore in 2017.

Asked about the challenge that awaits during a video call on Friday, Okudah didn’t blink.

“Just (got to) get to work,” he said. "I mean, I can control what I can control. I’m going to do everything that I can to be as ready as I can be whenever I get to Detroit.”

And make no mistake, Detroit is expecting him to start opposite Desmond Trufant whenever he gets here.

Related: An early look at the Lions’ new projected depth chart

“I would hope that Jeff Okudah would come in and start Day 1,” Lions general manager Bob Quinn said. “I sure hope so. But listen, if we don’t have an offseason program, would it take him a couple of weeks? Maybe. You never know. But I think he’s a very mature kid, very smart football-wise. I mean, I’m very confident that even if we do a virtual offseason program for six weeks, he’ll know enough of our defense to be a very capable player very, very early in his rookie season.”

The praise and expectations for Okudah, a top-three pick, aren’t a surprise.

But it seems big things are expected right away out of second-round D’Andre Swift too.

The former Georgia star, taken 35th overall, has 12-1 odds of winning offensive rookie of the year according to BetOnline. That trails only Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (5-2), Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (8-1), Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (9-1) and Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (9-1).

Swift’s over-under has been set at 625 rushing yards. Johnson had 641 as a rookie in 2018. No Lions player has rushed for 1,000 yards since Reggie Bush in 2013, the longest active drought in the league.

Many expected Detroit to continue addressing its defense with the 35th overall, but went with Swift instead, meaning the Lions added the top cornerback and top running back on their board. Only Edwards-Helaire was taken before Swift, going 32nd overall to Kansas City.

While Okudah is expected to start on Day 1, Swift has more of a battle awaiting him. Detroit also returns Kerryon Johnson, a second-round pick from 2018 who has been productive when healthy. But he’s also suffered knee injuries in each of his first two seasons, and the Lions’ rushing game has yet to finish in the top 20 since the pick.

Now they’re trying to supercharge that rushing attack, adding Swift -- who averaged 6.6 yards per carry at Georgia, a school record -- to a backfield that includes Johnson and former Alabama star Bo Scarbrough. Throw in the selection of guards in back-to-back rounds -- Ohio State’s Jonah Jackson in the third and Kentucky’s Logan Stenberg in the fourth -- and the investments have been considerable.

With Matthew Stafford back, along with every receiver who caught a pass last season, the Lions could have one of the best offenses in the game. So if Swift manages to win the starting job, he could certainly be a rookie of the year candidate, although the number of places the ball can go could limit his touches.

The only Lions offensive players to win rookie of the year awards in the last 50 years were also running backs,and you’ve probably heard of them both: Barry Sanders (1989) and Billy Sims (1980).

Related: Why I liked the Lions’ draft class so much

“You always want your first two days of (the) draft to be contributors early in their careers,” Quinn said. "That’s the goal. They’re going to come in, they’re going to be on the roster, they’re going to play. They’re going to develop, and they’re going to hopefully help us win games. That’s the goal, but it’s up to them now."

Quinn said he was surprised to see Swift fall to Detroit on Day 2.

“It was a tight group up there for sure," Quinn said. "A lot of guys we liked in that cluster up there (on Day 2). I’d say a little bit surprised (Thursday) night when we went back, and we said, ‘All right, well, Swift is still up there.’ Kind of crossed our fingers for a couple picks, but felt going to bed last night, he was the guy that was on my mind the most. I was hoping we could get him, and we stood pat there. You know, you never know. The draft is hard to predict, as you guys know. But I felt very fortunate that he was there.”