Tag: Rome Odunze

11 prospects Giants could be eyeing at 2024 NFL Combine

Here are 11 prospects the New York Giants could be eyeing at the 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

The 2024 NFL Combine will take place in Indianapolis later this month (February 27 through March 4) and the eyes and attention of the professional football world — and their followers — will be fully focused on tomorrow’s potential stars.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will lead a contingent of Giants front office, scouting, and coaching personnel in evaluating the 321 players invited to participate in this event.

Here are 11 of those players the Giants could be most interested in.

2024 NFL draft: Washington sending 13 prospects to scouting combine

According to the Seattle Times, Washington will be sending 13 prospects to this year’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.

If the Seattle Seahawks are looking for quality prospects in the 2024 NFL draft they don’t have to go far – as one of the top programs in college football this past season is in their backyard. Yesterday the team announced seven coaching staff hires, including former Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff. That means there’s a good chance they will be interested in drafting Huskies prospects, especially those who were part of Grubb’s potent offense over the last two seasons.

They will have plenty of options to pick from, too. According to a report by the Seattle Times, Washington will be sending 13 prospects to this year’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, a school record. Here’s a look at each of them.

For a full list of all 321 prospects who have been invited to the combine, click here.

Rome Odunze welcomes the idea of playing with Justin Fields or Caleb Williams

Rome Odunze had nothing but positive things to say about the Bears, as well as Justin Fields and Caleb Williams.

The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft via the Carolina Panthers and it is all anyone can talk about. Will they use it on USC quarterback Caleb Williams? Will they consider one of the other top prospects with that pick? Would they consider trading it for a haul and keeping Justin Fields? Any of those scenarios is possible.

They also have their own selection at No. 9 overall and there are sure to be some really good options for Chicago when they come up and select again. One person they might consider who should be available is Rome Odunze, the wide receiver coming out of Washington.

Coming into the year, Odunze was thought to be a late first- or early second-round pick in the 2024 Draft. However, after a strong season, he is now projected as a top-15 pick. He might even end up being drafted inside the top ten. If the Bears take him at No. 9 overall, it should not shock anyone.

Odunze stopped by to chat with Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago at Super Bowl Radio Row this week to chat about the Bears, from growing up watching them to a potential fit with the current team. Odunze said that he modeled his game after Devin Hester, who played most of his career with the Bears and is now headed for the Hall of Fame. “I was a big fan of Devin Hester growing up. That was my favorite player,” he said. Odunze feels that he can help this team have success again, as it did during those days of Hester flying around.

He also believes that he could thrive with either Justin Fields or Caleb Williams under center. Odunze talked about how much he likes Fields as a quarterback. “I think his ability to extend plays is what glares at a lot of people who watch him. It’s rare that he gets taken down in the backfield,” Odunze said. “He can play with his feet, and then he can make a play with his feet and get the ball in the air. To be so versatile in a league that has such great pass rushers, I think he’s got a unique skill set.” He knows that he can make plays that would help him grow in the NFL.

He also played against Williams last season (a 52-42 win for Washington over USC) and saw firsthand how good he can be. “He’s special player. It would be exciting to play with him.” Odunze knows that having a guy like that would make this transition into the league easier. Coming in at the same time would be very cool for the now-former PAC-12 stars.

We’ll see if the Bears go through with it, but it is good to know he is confident no matter what decision they make. A player that is all in no matter what is never a bad thing.

2 receivers in top 5 of Daniel Jeremiah’s 1st 2024 NFL draft prospect rankings

Daniel Jeremiah ranks Marvin Harrison Jr. No. 2 in the draft and Rome Odunze No. 3 in the draft his his first player rankings.

The Arizona Cardinals have the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL draft. They have many needs. Perhaps their most pressing need is at receiver because it would complete the offense. They are a big-time receiver away from being a very good offense. They have a decent offensive line. They had a great rushing attack and Trey McBride is on the verge of being a star tight end.

The Cardinals are in luck in the draft because there are some great receivers in this draft class.

In fact, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his first version of his 2024 draft prospect rankings and two of his top five players in the draft are wide receivers.

The other three are quarterbacks.

Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is No. 2 on Jeremiah’s board and Washington’s Rome Odunze is No. 3.

Harrison is a player the majority of fans would love the Cardinals to draft.

However, Jeremiah compares Odunze to Larry Fitzgerald.

Based on these rankings, the Cardinals are guaranteed to be able to select one of two top receivers who both have a top-five grade right now.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Opinions mixed over Patriots’ No. 3 pick

Opinions continue to be mixed over the Patriots’ No. 3 draft pick

No current pick in the 2024 NFL draft has people more divided than the New England Patriots at No.3 in the first round.

The Patriots clearly need a quarterback to help take the franchise in an entirely different direction than it was headed with Mac Jones under center. However, they could also use an elite weapon at receiver and a high-end offensive tackle.

That puts New England in a unique situation where they could either make a selection at No. 3 or possibly even trade to accumulate more draft assets to help fix the flailing roster.

The only thing certain is the fact that nothing is certain when it comes to the Patriots. Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh will be handling the personnel decisions with Bill Belichick no longer with the team. How will they approach things without the hoodie-wearing overseer peering over their shoulders?

Here’s this week’s roundup of mock drafts for the Patriots:

2024 NFL Draft Wide Receiver rankings 1.0

Here are Natalie Miller’s top 5 receivers for the 2024 NFL draft.

The wide receiver draft classes continue to increase in value year after year, with multiple teams taking pass catchers at the top of the class in an effort to match the high-powered offenses around the league.

This crop of receivers may be the most talented group we have seen in quite some time with as many as seven playmakers potentially hearing their names called on day one of the draft. Let’s take a look at the top five players of that group before we get to pre-draft process.

Vikings 2024 NFL draft scouting report: Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk

Washington Huskies WR Ja’Lynn Polk has been overlooked with Rome Odunze on the same team. How does he look as an NFL Draft prspect?

Welcome to SKOL Search!

This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.

The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at quarterback, running back, defensive line and edge rusher. We will also focus on wide receiver since it’s a loaded class and an increased chance to get a Stefon Diggs-type steal in the later rounds.

The Vikings are slated to have 9 picks going into the NFL draft and they need to make the most out of them.

Jaguars mock drafts: 9 prospects experts say could be the pick

There’s no consensus for what the Jaguars should do with the No. 17 pick, but a few prospects are standing out as good options.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will pick 17th in the 2024 NFL draft, but there isn’t much consensus about which direction the team should take.

At nflmockdraftdatabase.com, no one player has been paired with the Jaguars in more than 11 percent of the nearly 500 projections of the draft they’ve surveyed so far.

Still, there are a few needs that jump out as the potential top priority for the Jaguars in the offseason. Namely, the offensive and defensive lines, as well as wide receiver and cornerback.

With the draft now three months away, there are a group of prospects who experts have projected to be the likeliest candidates to be the Jaguars’ pick in April:

Giants go wide receiver in Bucky Brooks’ first 2024 mock draft

In the first 2024 mock draft from NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks, the New York Giants continue to build around Daniel Jones with a top wideout.

Mock draft season is in full swing and with the New York Giants picking sixth overall, general manager Joe Schoen has a big decision to make.

Bucky Brooks recently released his first mock for the 2024 NFL draft and similar to the mock released by Daniel Jeremiah last week, he has the Giants going with a wide receiver — Washington’s Rome Odunze — in Round 1.

If the Giants are going to continue with Daniel Jones as their QB1, they must add a legitimate No. 1 receiver to help the quarterback thrive. As a catch-and-run specialist with superior strength and power, Odunze could make the game easier for Jones.

The Giants have been lacking a true No. 1 receiver since they parted ways with Odell Beckham Jr.

With Saquon Barkley’s odds of returning in question and Schoen appearing very committed to Daniel Jones, it would be wise for the Giants to add another weapon to their offense.

Last offseason, the Giants tried to upgrade their pass catchers through trade, free agency, and the draft. Taking Odunze sixth overall would give them a top-notch receiver for Jones to throw to.

Odunze would join a youthful wideout corps that includes Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt.

While many hope the Giants select a quarterback or an offensive lineman with their first-round pick, a case can certainly be made that picking a wide receiver would be the best bet for Big Blue. And that’s why you’ll see the Giants taking a receiver in plenty of mock drafts in the coming months.

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2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Who experts are projecting Chargers to pick

Who could the Chargers look to add to the roster in the first round next year?

The Chargers own the No. 5 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

Now that we know where Los Angeles will be picking, let’s take a look at who draft experts are pairing with L.A. in the first round.

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah — WR Rome Odunze, Washington

Odunze is my favorite player in the draft. He’s a complete receiver. The Chargers have salary-cap decisions to make with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. This would be a home run addition for Justin Herbert.

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso — WR Malik Nabers, LSU

“I think Nabers is every bit of an elite WR prospect as Harrison. Seriously. Once he learns the entire route tree, he’ll be a star at the next level. Explosive athlete with plus hands.”

Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings — OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

“You don’t always see the Chargers picking tackles early in 2024 NFL Mock Drafts, but Justin Herbert got injured in 2023, and right tackle Trey Pipkins leaves much to be desired. With Joe Alt‘s rare recovery athleticism, flexibility, length, and leverage acquisition skills, Herbert’s right side would be secure — and the run game would get a boost, too.”

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“Mike Williams is 29 years old coming off a season in which he was limited to three games. His salary cap hit for the 2024 campaign is north of $32 million. If Los Angeles, which has $-44 million in salary cap space when the new league year rolls over, moves on from him, it would save $20 million. The addition of Bowers, a California native, absorbs some of that loss.”

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling — WR Malik Nabers, LSU

College Wire staff — WR Malik Nabers, LSU

The Chargers are looking for a new head coach, which could switch up their draft process. However, I still believe they can’t pass on the opportunity to get quarterback Justin Herbert some help out wide. Nabers can be a big-play threat for the Bolts.

The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer — EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama

“The Chargers need to be concerned that Khalil Mack will be 33 in February and Joey Bosa, who’s 28, simply cannot stay healthy to provide the needed impact. Going for Turner as a developing cornerstone makes sense as he has lot of former teammate Will Anderson Jr.’s game in him.”

The Draft Network’s Brentley Weissman — WR Rome Odunze, Washington

“As someone who watches an unhealthy amount of Pac-12 football, I am incredibly high on Rome Odunze. As a matter of fact, Odunze is graded as my third overall player in the class. He has it all: Smooth, sudden, explosive and physical. He would give the Chargers an elite No. 1 option as Keenan Allen ages.”