The Washington football team fell short of winning the college football national championship, but Rome Odunze, their wide receiver, had an impressive season. It’s expected that he will be selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Following in the footsteps of Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison, Odunze is preparing for the draft, garnering attention from NFL team executives.
At the 2024 NFL Combine, competition for the top wide receiver intensified when LSU’s Malik Nabers posted a remarkable 40-yard dash time. A recent mock draft linked USC’s Caleb Williams with one of the premier wide receivers in the draft.
Now, all eyes are on Rome Odunze as he aims to maximize his value in the draft’s first round. Recently, he made a significant decision to skip his former team’s Pro Day, confident that he’s already demonstrated his abilities sufficiently to be a first-round pick.
This decision mirrors that of Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., who also opted out of his team’s Pro Day. While Harrison is widely regarded as the top wide receiver in the draft, Nabers has been challenging his position, and Odunze is gaining ground, according to some NFL analysts.
He projects as the No. 4 player in Mel Kiper’s latest top prospect rankings. He's met with or is scheduled to meet with eight teams picking in the Top 10. He led the nation in receiving yards in 2023 with 1,640 yards.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 27, 2024
Odunze is often considered the third-best receiver and is projected to be a first-round pick, possibly within the top 15 to 20 picks, as indicated by recent draft predictions. His stock has been rising rapidly, even reaching fourth overall on Mel Kiper Jr.’s esteemed ESPN list.
A follow-up tweet by Pete Thamel provided additional insight into Odunze’s decision, with fans expressing varied opinions. Some see it as a red flag, while others believe he has nothing left to prove.
In the National Championship Game against the Michigan Wolverines, Odunze recorded five catches for 87 yards, including a long reception of 44 yards.