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WR Rome Odunze, CHI (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
Faust
MVP
Joe O’Leary
2024 NFL Draft Prospect Preview
Rome Odunze WR Washington
‘22 Stats 77/1145/8 Total TD
‘23 Stats 32/608/5 (5 Games)
Size 6’3 215
Faust
MVP
Greg Cover1
6’3” 215 ain’t supposed to move like that
Rome Odunze
Soulfly3
Footballguy
that's some high praise. the more I watch of him, the more I like him... He's a guy I liked for a long time, but when I put all the tape together, I start to love.
he makes difficult catches look easy. and no, not circus circus catches, but those NFL level catches that top WRs need to make consistently... esp the back shoulder.
if he lands with a nice QB, and as the third WR off the board (Im assuming) that might be the case, he could be fantasy gold
Boston
Footballguy
As an aside (and this has no bearing on this kid who I really like)...it is pretty amazing that in the history of a program like the University of Washington they have not produced one big time or even good NFL WR...closest is Puka who has there for two years but had a total of 16 receptions...was very surprised looking at this list.
Soulfly3
Footballguy
warren moon was their only QB gift to the NFL as well... and that's bordering on 50yrs ago
Boston
Footballguy
Don't forget Mark Brunell...after that you have some memorable/interesting names...the Huard Brothers (I swear there was 6 of them), Chris Chandler, Hugh Millen, Steve Pelluer, Billy Joe Hobert, Jake Locker and now Jake Browning.
Soulfly3
Footballguy
Brunell I guess would be the closest thing to a gift
the rest are getting regifted or donated to the salvation armyHuge praise and it's not said for shock value or clicks and he went into some detail over it.
Now for years we used to hear how Heisman voting had an east coast bias and as someone who has been paying attention to DJ for a long time now I do think he has a little bit of a west coast bias.
My thinking it it's a race for the second WR off the board but I was listening to Dane Brugler the other day and where DJ is giving the same grade to Rome as he is Marvin, Brugler says he thinks Nabers is closer to Marvin then Rome is to Nabers. Said that Nabers vs Rome is like comping Odell vs Godwin stylistically and I see a lot of merit in that.
That's surprising but I recall when we went through an extremely long drought of quality WR's from the Pac 10. Like multiple years where Steve Smith, the Utah version, was the only decent one in the league.
Boston
Footballguy
They didn't have many high picks either...Reggie Williams and John Ross were #1's and Dante Pettis and Jerome Pathon were second rounders...I was shocked looking at the list how underwhelming it is for a big time program like this.
I'm probably not as shocked or surprised because I've been a Razorback most of my life and we've not had a decent NFL WR since Lance Alworth-who was before my time.
Stuff happens like that. I'm more shocked when I see stuff like NFL teams, like the Browns and Bears, go on 30-50 year stretches of futility where they can't get a top notch franchise QB. That's just mind blowing to me.
caustic
Footballguy
Will be watching Odunze very closely during today's bowl game, because so far in my limited film review, I haven't been blown away. Here's what I'm seeing:
Strengths
Three aspects of Odunze's game really stand out to me: his hands, leaping ability, and contested catching. He has strong, sticky hands and can pluck the ball out of the air from all sorts of uncomfortable angles. His ability to high point the ball with defenders draped around him is impressive - something he improved on significantly this season. Through some creative leans, nudges, etc., he's good at making just enough last-second separation to bring in catches against tight coverage. He can easily locate the soft spots in a zone.
Weaknesses
For someone who's supposed to test like a freak athlete at the combine, I thought Rome's in-game athleticism was not special. His speed and quickness were good enough to be an asset against college competition, but they didn't jump off the screen in a way that would suggest Odunze will be a plus athlete at the next level. IMO his suddenness and change of direction can be particularly clunky at times - I saw few instances of him absolutely toasting inferior DBs with smooth, complex releases. I noticed far more routes where he never truly beat his man but made a big catch anyway due to his verticality, hands, and Penix's great ball placement.
Overall
I own pick 1.04 in my upcoming rookie draft and heard some great things about Odunze, so I was ready to fall in love when I turned on his tape - but instead I came away underwhelmed. I did not see the athleticism or separation abilities that I was expecting from such a highly touted player. The contested catches are nice, but it always gives me pause when that is a WR prospect's go-to skill. My takeaways from his film are so wildly contrary to everything I've read that it feels like I must be missing something. Hopefully tonight's bowl game addresses some of those concerns.
Strengths
Three aspects of Odunze's game really stand out to me: his hands, leaping ability, and contested catching. He has strong, sticky hands and can pluck the ball out of the air from all sorts of uncomfortable angles. His ability to high point the ball with defenders draped around him is impressive - something he improved on significantly this season. Through some creative leans, nudges, etc., he's good at making just enough last-second separation to bring in catches against tight coverage. He can easily locate the soft spots in a zone.
Weaknesses
For someone who's supposed to test like a freak athlete at the combine, I thought Rome's in-game athleticism was not special. His speed and quickness were good enough to be an asset against college competition, but they didn't jump off the screen in a way that would suggest Odunze will be a plus athlete at the next level. IMO his suddenness and change of direction can be particularly clunky at times - I saw few instances of him absolutely toasting inferior DBs with smooth, complex releases. I noticed far more routes where he never truly beat his man but made a big catch anyway due to his verticality, hands, and Penix's great ball placement.
Overall
I own pick 1.04 in my upcoming rookie draft and heard some great things about Odunze, so I was ready to fall in love when I turned on his tape - but instead I came away underwhelmed. I did not see the athleticism or separation abilities that I was expecting from such a highly touted player. The contested catches are nice, but it always gives me pause when that is a WR prospect's go-to skill. My takeaways from his film are so wildly contrary to everything I've read that it feels like I must be missing something. Hopefully tonight's bowl game addresses some of those concerns.
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Soulfly3
Footballguy
Brulger maybe changing his tune a bit now... 4hrs ago he tweeted this, after giving his top 3 of MHJ, Nabers, Odunze...
On nabers v odunze
"I like both a lot. Would take both in the top-10. Nabers' explosiveness gives him slight edge for me."
jumper
Footballguy
Not a Bears fan, but I can easily see them drafting this guy with their second 1st round pick. But then I realized the Falcons have the pick immediately before the Bears and rumors are Arthur Smith is returning as head coach in 2024. So it's a near certainty ATL will draft this guy so they have a strong offensive core of him, Bijan, London, and Pitts. None of which will have any fantasy value.
Big Nate
Footballguy
Trade back. Or take best player available and trade for a RB. Don't reach for an RB.
Jacob's Ladder
Footballguy
This guy does so much well. If he measures out at 6'3'' or anywhere close to it, I'd take him anywhere after Harrison Jr. He does not move like someone that's near 6'3'' and 220. Odunze does so much well and he's a physically gifted monster. Someone mentioned Evans on deep balls. I see that. I also see some Keenan Allen in his route running and intelligence, but he looks quicker and definitely faster. Then there's just something I can't put my finger on, he's just special. He does so much well that you can see from other great WRs' games. This WR class is so deep. I hope Odunze goes to a good situation and not somewhere like the NYG or Carolina.
Wigglytuff's Gruff
Footballguy
I've picks 1 - 3 - 4 - 13 - 14 - 18 - 19 this upcoming draft. I really like the look of Nabers but figured he'd go 2nd. Based on the general feeling around this guy it seems like there are 3 premium guys at the top (Bowers excluded for me as I don't play in a league that tops up tight ends). Was going to try and turn the 3rd or 4th pick into the 2nd with the later capital but might not bother now.
Hard to see him going to the Panthers as they don't have a 1st round pick. Not sure either of these are all that bad a landing spot though. Both teams have wide open spots to occupy the WR1 position, and somebody has to catch the ball. Might not be a slam dunk landing spot but lots of opportunity even if they are in weak teams. Give me those teams over the Jets, Falcons, Saints, Vikings, Seahawks.
Jacob's Ladder
Footballguy
That's a crazy haul in next year's draft that has so so much talent. I'm with you on Bowers for the most part. I love him as a talent, but the NFL proves time and again TE is one of the most difficult positions to get up to speed in the NFL. In dynasty, I view young TEs as a luxury. I never draft one when trying to rebuild because the hit rate and near term production at that position is more miss than hit. I only end up with good TEs through trades or when I have a team with no real needs elsewhere and a top prospect falls to me. All that said, if I had the 1, 3 and 4 it would be hard NOT to take him if Nabers or Odunze are taken with pick 2. If not, you could draft Harrison, Odunze AND Nabers. Crazy.
I do love Nabers. So explosive and an intelligent/proficient route runner. I'm not sure he winds up the 2nd WR taken, but we'll see how it plays out. He and Odunze look like they're can't miss prospects, but they're completely different players and where they go will probably depend more on team tendencies than anything else. Even so, I still believe the combine will be very important to Nabers and Odunze. Right now, I see them both as top 15 picks but a poor showing could change everything. There will also undoubtedly be 1 or 2 guys out of this extremely gifted class that steps up at the combine and wows the crowd with athleticism and rockets up the draft boards.
Saints, Jets, Falcons and Vikings will draft a QB relatively early IMO. Carolina "could" be a decent fit for an alpha WR, but they need a coaching staff that knows how to work with what they have, instead of putting the players into their pre-determined system regardless of strengths or weaknesses. I'm not one to say Young is a bust, yet, but he has been absolutely dreadful this season. I do believe some of that is on coaching and the talent around him, but at the same time, he's looked incompetent and inaccurate all season even when there's a clean pocket and he has a WR open. I didn't see a single play from him this season that tells me he should be an NFL starter. He looks lost, scared and out of place out there.
One note I'll add, if the Falcons draft a QB and Smith gets fired as he should be, then Atlanta becomes a very interesting situation for fantasy and have to be a front runner in the coaching carousel along with maybe the Chargers. They obviously need a QB, but they also need a more creative/aggressive play caller to take advantage of all the talent they've drafted since 2020.
The write-ups are glowing for the top guys, including Brian Thomas Jr (15), Devontez Walker (26), Adonai Mitchell (34) and Troy Franklin (39). Not sure what to make of Keon Coleman (38).
Soulfly3
Footballguy
bust
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Coleman = Jump ball guy = one-trick-pony?
(HULK)
(Smash)
I think he's great but Nabers is insane and my #2. All 3 (MHJ, Nabers, Odunze) are going to be studs though.
Soulfly3
Footballguy
he reminds me of a certain WR that SD took last year.
Wigglytuff's Gruff
Footballguy
They don't seem like especially similar players to me. One is a jump ball contested catch specialist and one is an oversized RAC specialist. Both certainly limited. Might make a nice player if you could combine them actually.
Big Nate
Footballguy
I'm digging in deeper and I was starting to believe that but some of the guys who I trust that scout say he's a good route runner too. I'm not going to say much more because I want to do gather my own info but the more he falls the more I am likely in on Coleman. Anyways this is the Rome thread... back on track!
Soulfly3
Footballguy
I should have been clearer, sorry... I meant he reminds me in the fact that he's a big boy with big rookie hype, but does nothing particularly well, and won't translate well to the NFL imo.
Again, might be wrong... But I won't touch him in the first round, myself (I have the 3 pick only right now, so kind irrelevent)... But if I acquired another last 1st, he'd be off my list.
Wigglytuff's Gruff
Footballguy
Yeah I'm the same unless he's in a smash spot and somehow falls to the mid 2nd round.
I'm holding 1 - 3 - 4 - 13 - 14 - 18 - 19. With those back ends firsts I have to say the guy I like most right now is Malachi Corley. I'm fully expecting Odunze to be the pick at 3, and I'm going to see what can be done about turning the 4 into 2. I think the guy with 2 would be amenable to moving off it for more capital.
Still so much between now and picking players though.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Odunze is a 1st round rookie pick In dynasty leagues. Anyone hoping he drops is a pipe dream.
brewer
Footballguy
He was talking about Coleman, not Odunze.
