Rome Odunze — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

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.

Colts' fans should not have had their sights on playoff football in 2023, but when you get so close, it hurts. A Week 18 win would have secured a division win, but it wasn't to be. However, the future is bright, and this team will be in the mix in 2024. Gardner Minshew will pass the baton back to Anthony Richardson as Shane Steichen's team try to topple C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence in the AFC South.

Steichen is a good young coach, but he'll know there are holes to fill on the roster. The defense could use an injection of talent on all three levels. Kenny Moore is a free agent, but he should be re-signed, and they have the cap space to do so. Chris Ballard could be tempted to select a defensive tackle or an edge rusher if one of the elite prospects falls to #15. The o-line could be improved, but the tackle spots are set, and Ryan Kelly will be back at OC, even with a $14.6m cap hit.

Alec Pierce has not developed as a reliable #3 receiver. Pierce only caught 32 passes in 2023. Josh Downs (68 receptions) is a great underneath receiver and Michael Pittman (109 receptions; 1152 yards) finally flourished as the clear #1. However, Pittman is a free agent, and may not return. If not, Rome Odunze provides a ready-made replacement with identical size to Pittman.

Jacksonville's first priority has to be re-signing Calvin Ridley, but the addition of Rome Odunze gives that room a piece to build around with Trevor Lawrence. Odunze is a bigger body with a diverse skillset.

I'm of the belief the Saints desperately need more weapons on offense. Odunze has an alpha mentality on the perimeter and the skill set to back it up.

The Bears pair their new quarterback with a playmaker at wide receiver in Rome Odunze, who will serve as the perfect complement to DJ Moore.

With his size/speed profile and ability to play through contact, Odunze is a quarterback-friendly target with the tools to be a legitimate No. 1 option. The Giants haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2018, but Odunze might change that as a rookie.

I know there will be plenty of "Why not a quarterback?" questions. Though I think a player like Jayden Daniels is possible, drafting a quarterback in the top 10 is an ownership decision — and we know Giants ownership loves Daniel Jones. GM Joe Schoen has been on the road this fall to see all of the top quarterbacks, but I'll go with the QB-friendly target as the answer to the team's passing woes.

With Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd expected to entertain free agency, Cincinnati needs a wideout to pair with Ja'Marr Chase. Rookies Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones both showed flashes this fall, but Rome Odunze is a 'WR1A' type of ballplayer on the perimeter who would force secondaries to pick their poison through the air.

Working very little to get up to top speed, fans will blink, and they'll miss Rome Odunze. When he's in space, few can catch Odunze, let alone tackle him, as he's as shifty as they come.

Odunze has strength at the catch point, however, as his top trait. No ball is out of reach with his length and timely athleticism, but his strength with his hands is unmatched in this class.

Wide receiver would be a top priority in the offseason if the Colts lose Michael Pittman Jr. in free agency. Odunze features elite size (6-3, 215), speed and strength, and will compete to become the second wide receiver drafted in prime-time come April.

After selecting Williams at No. 1, the Bears double-down on offense and grab Rome Odunze at No. 9. DJ Moore had a fantastic season in Chicago, but the Bears need more consistent play-makers opposite him.

Odunze would be the perfect No. 2 receiver in Chicago because he can stretch the field and make a bunch of contested catches.

The Bears (and Jets right after them) are sitting in a prime trade down spot considering how many teams outside the top 10 could have interest in a quarterback. With no trades in this mock, the Bears land their new quarterback, Caleb Williams, a big target from the same conference in Rome Odunze.

This season he caught 20 of his 27 contested-catch opportunities (Per PFF), a remarkable improvement from 2022 where he hauled in just 4 of 16.

Odunze is a wizard. That's the gist of his game. Michael Penix Jr. drops back, sees him in one-on-one coverage, and lobs the ball up there whether he's open or not. And whether he's open or not, Odunze typically comes down with the ball.

That's a wonderful feature for a Titans team that coaxed a solid season out of a 31-year-old DeAndre Hopkins but remains in desperate need of supporting castmates. Odunze can be 1b to Hopkins' 1a for Will Levis in 2024, then take over as Tennessee's top wideout going forward.

This is a nightmare scenario for the Giants, with all three of the top quarterbacks and both of the top two receivers off the board. Offensive tackle could be an option here, but I don't think GM Joe Schoen is ready to throw in the towel on Evan Neal at right tackle just yet, even though the early returns haven't been promising. Plus, the top two tackles in this class have played only on the left side, where Andrew Thomas lines up for New York.

That leads me to Odunze, who dictates his own route tempos and can make catches in any situation, as evidenced by his FBS-high 1,640 receiving yards this season. He tied for the most contested receptions (24) in the country and had the third-most touchdowns (eight) in those situations. If things play out this way, it would be the first time in the common draft era that three receivers went in the top six picks, per ESPN Stats & Information data.

The Bears could get their franchise QB and a talented WR in the Keenan Allen mold to go with D.J. Moore. Chicago could very quickly be a much-improved offense.