Is Huskies’ Receiver Rome Odunze a First Round Talent?

Washington Huskies’ wide receiver (WR) Rome Odunze needs to answer one question this season.

Is he a consistent elite playmaker who takes over games or does he make a lot of plays?

There is a difference.

I really like what this Washington receiver put on game film last season, but there’s something missing. I made the decision last draft season that I wasn’t giving out first-round grades to anyone who didn’t really excite me.

Currently, over 50% of the NFL Draft Community has Odunze with a first-round grade (nflmockdraftdatabase.com), but I am just not there yet.

What does Odunze look like on game film?

A polished and exceptionally smooth receiver who has a quick release at the snap of the ball and he excels mostly in the intermediate route level (11-19 yards). He’s got good size and he caught pretty much everything that was thrown in his direction during these five games from last season.

His movements are fluid looking and he’s flexible, making crisp changes of direction at route break points.

Odunze is an accomplished route runner who knows how to get open and he is competitive. He knows how to set up corners and has a great understanding of the position.

What’s he lacking?

His football speed looks decent, but not great. In baseball terms, he will hit a lot of doubles, maybe a triple, and an occasional home run.

While he’s tougher to bring down after the catch, I wasn’t overly impressed with his yardage after the catch production, especially on short-range receiver bubble screens.

Odunze is not the type of receiver who’s going to make a habit of juking defensive backs out of their cleats or plain outrunning defenses.

Where does he fit?

At this point of the process, I can see him as a reliable No. 1 receiver on a non-playoff team.

Could that change?

Absolutely, but first, he has to consistently show it. I would project him to a team that has a game-changing No. 2 receiver.

Right now, I could see him getting selected by the Detroit Lions and he would help them get better. Again, by no means am I downplaying the talent Odunze has. I respect his abilities. It’s just a matter of properly grading him based on what he put on game film. He will be a very productive player at the next level. It’s just I don’t see him as a dynamic difference-making star player.

#1 Rome Odunze 6-foot-3, 211 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Summer 2023 Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 58.4% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of August 21, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): Oregon, Michigan State, UCLA, Oregon State, and Stanford (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 receiving stats: 75 receptions  (112 targets 67% catch rate), 1,145 yards (15.3 avg.), 7 TD, long-61 yards

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Lanky muscular frame with long arms, strong hands, and above-average football-playing speed. Has a physical edge. Occasional pre-snap motion. Lined up out wide and in the slot. Sort of a cross between the two positions. Releases into routes and achieves route leverage with quick feet and sudden movements. Agile. Route running looks effortless. Good catch radius and can pluck the ball out of the air with excellent concentration even in traffic. Contests strongly. Has deceptive speed that can get behind a defense if they are not careful. Solid run blocker who is willing to stick his nose in there.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Yardage after the catch?

2. Big plays?

3. How does his long-range speed look?

4. Back-to-back highly productive seasons?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.