2024 NFL Draft Player Preview: Rome Odunze

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Rome Odunze, 6-3/201 Wide Receiver Washington

Rome Odunze 2024 Preview
By Charlie Campbell

Career Recap: Following the arrival of Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback for 2022, Odunze broke out for the Huskies, catching 75 passes for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns. It was a huge jump in production over 2021, when he turned 41 catches for 415 yards and four touchdowns.



2023 Season Outlook: Odunze will take on some quality cornerbacks during the 2023 season. The best matchups could come against Arizona State’s Ro Torrence on Oct. 21 and Utah’s Zemaiah Vaughn on Nov. 11.

Skill-Set Summary: While NFL teams are always looking out for elite No. 1 receivers, they also need complementary pieces who can contribute to a passing attack. Odunze could be on the bubble between being a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver, but with his skill set, he might be a better fit as a No. 2 at the pro level.

Immediately, Odunze’s size and ability to win contested catches jump out. He is tall, long and lean, and his leaping ability allows him to make contested catches over defensive backs. Beyond his large catch radius, Odunze shows nice body control and the ability to adjust to high point the ball over corners to snatch passes for chunk completions. Odunze makes catches in traffic, routinely showing zero hesitation or fear knowing that hits are coming. He has a natural ability to track the ball and uses late hands to not tip off cornerbacks that the ball is about to arrive.

After the catch, Odunze is a nice contributor, using his size to fight through tackles and pick up yards after contact. He has good feel to know which way to break and cut after making a catch to give himself more space for yardage. Odunze is tough and physical as a runner, showing the ability to drive through defensive backs to get extra yardage. On wide receiver screens, Odunze is very capable to get upfield for good gains.



To this analyst, Odunze looks like he would be a better No. 2 receiver at the pro level because he does not look like a game-breaker in terms of speed. Odunze does not have deep speed where he is so fast running downfield that he will flat out burn coverage. It would not surprise me if has problems separating from NFL cornerbacks. Odunze also could stand to improve his hands in 2023 and not body catch as much as he did in 2022.

For the NFL, Odunze looks like a potential starter and solid No. 2 receiver entering the 2023 season. However, he could improve and rise if he builds on his breakout 2022 season.



2024 NFL Draft Expectations: Entering the 2023 season, Odunze looks like he could be a prospect for the top half of the 2024 NFL Draft.

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

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