Rome Odunze Draft Profile | Washington, WR Scouting Report

The star playmaker of an explosive Washington Huskies offense, wide receiver Rome Odunze has hopes of landing in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft boards. What does Odunze’s scouting report suggest about his NFL projection?

Rome Odunze Draft Profile and Measurements

• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 217
• Position: Wide Receiver
• School: Washington
• Current Year: Junior

Leading the Huskies in receiving production was no easy task considering Odunze competed with Jalen McMillan. In his third season with the program, Odunze exploded for career highs across the board, totaling 75 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns.

Rome Odunze Scouting Report

Strengths

• Displays a bulked-up powerful frame and a massive wingspan that gives him one of the biggest catch radius in the class.
• Effectively uses his upper body to sell routes and create some separation, which is uncommon for receivers with as much size as he has.
• Elite concentration and fast-twitch reaction ability on passes that require him to contort his body.
• Plus body control allows him to make acrobatic catches that most would have no chance at completing.
• Dominates at the catch point with his strength, size, and concentration. He’s a major threat on back-shoulder fades.
• Capable of winning on double moves thanks to solid footwork and attention to detail.
• Can box out cornerbacks on slants and other sharp-breaking routes.

Weaknesses

• He’s a bit of a workout warrior because his speed and explosiveness don’t translate to separation.
• The bulk of his big plays were reliant on him finishing through contact or requiring masterful nuance on the sideline because he doesn’t have the burst of speed to rely on.
• Will require an accurate and trusting quarterback that will target him regardless of the defender’s leverage.
• Does not create much after the catch and often goes down at the catch point.

Current Draft Projection and Summary

Playmakers like Odunze can be difficult projections to the NFL. For every DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Thomas who are unstoppable at the catch point, there are a dozen other big but not tremendously fast receivers who never stick on an NFL roster. Odunze has the twitch and focus ability to make him special, though.

Some of his success will depend on playing with a confident quarterback. Odunze will swallow some bad passes into his massive catch radius. But he can’t make a bad quarterback good. He can really elevate an average or better quarterback who may struggle with pinpoint accuracy.

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With the majority of playmakers lacking great size and this specific skill set, Odunze should be in the mix to be taken in the first round with another big season.

It’d be helpful to see him featured on more underneath routes and part of a schemed effort to get him into space. Nonetheless, the NFL might be more fruitful for him to expand his game.