University of Washington wide receiver, Rome Odunze, is one of the top receivers in this year’s draft. After a prolific high school career at Bishop Gorman, the Las Vegas Native joined the Huskies right before the COVID year where he saw game experience as a true freshman in a shortened season. In 2022, Odunze had an all-conference year with over 1,100 receiving yards and an opportunity to declare for the draft. Seeing how close Washington was to being a college football playoff team, Odunze chose to return to school and helped lead the the Huskies to an undefeated regular season and national title appearance. He had over 1,400 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns on top of being named a consensus All-American and First-Team-All-Pac-12 for the second straight year. In September of the 2023 season, Odunze broke his rib and punctured a lung but played through it the entire year. He has fully recovered and is now projected to be one of the first receivers taken come draft day.

When assessing Odunze’s demeanor, teams are going to fall in love with his toughness and competitive nature. Whether it was him battling through car accident-esque injuries or coming back for a chance to compete for a national championship, Odunze has the composition that teams are looking for. That competitive nature was on display at the combine where he was relentlessly attempting the three-cone-drill until the event was over. It shows up on tape; whether he is crack blocking line-backers or gaining proper hat placement on backside cut-offs, Odunze is not only a tone-setter, but extremely detailed in his approach. Even if he is in a max split on the backside of a run, Odunze consistently works his technique and gains inside leverage. His approach and unabated competitiveness is a trait that teams will covet.

Odunze is a well-rounded player that can win in multiple ways. Standing at 6’3 212 lbs., his size naturally makes him bigger and stronger than most players. He uses his frame box out defenders and he utilizes his strength at the catch point. A lot of times, bigger body receivers win vertically and rely on their physical advantages to win the rep; that isn’t the case for Odunze. He is a very good route runner and has excellent body control and overall movement skills. His ankles are mobile and feet are quick which helps him be an effective salesman when running routes before changing directions. There is a difference between going through the motions and playing with intention, and it is clear that Odunze does everything with intention. When it comes to ball skills, he often makes catches outside of his frame and tracks the ball extremely well. Odunze consistently makes contested catches and can be relied on to win 50/50 balls. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he is a long strider and uses angles and space to get open. After the catch, Odunze gets downfield and doesn’t play with any hesitancy. There is a level of dominance that teams want their number one receivers to play with, and Odunze has the determination to do anything to reach that level.

Upper-body twitch is one area of Odunze’s game where he lacks. Being able to freeze up defensive backs at the top of his stem would allow him to win in more effective ways. It would also allow him to separate more effectively against a hard press. While Odunze is extremely efficient in his movements, he isn’t going to inundate defensive backs with quickness or breakaway speed.

In the NFL, Odunze is going to be a good receiver from day one, but being good won’t be good enough for him. For a team starting a new coaching regime or in need of dependability; Odunze has the work ethic and mindset that teams build their culture around. He represents the cliché of the best player being the hardest worker. From a dependability, physicality, and ball skills standpoint; he is like a taller version of Roddy White. While the Falcons could be a team that drafts him in the top ten, the Bears, Giants, and Cardinals may be more likely to go after the receiver position. He is worthy of a top nine pick and it unlikely he gets pass the Bears. Odunze projects a Z-receiver with the potential of being a high-level “big slot”. Regardless of where he plays or what team he is drafted to; Odunze is one of the safest players in the draft with extremely high upside.