NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: Rome Odunze Will Not Work Out at Washington Pro Day; B/R’s WR3

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVMarch 27, 2024

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With the 2024 NFL draft approaching, Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze reportedly will not participate in the school’s pro day on Thursday.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the highly regarded prospect “plans to stand on his performance at the NFL Combine in February, where he performed all of the wide receiver drills and ran a 4.45 40-yard dash.”

Earlier this month, B/R’s NFL Scouting Department ranked Odunze as the third-best receiver in this year’s draft class behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU’s Malik Nabers.

Odunze isn’t the only one from that list who skipped some of the pre-draft process, as Harrison did not participate in testing at the NFL Scouting Combine or the Buckeyes’ pro day. Nabers didn’t run or test at the combine either.

All three accumulated plenty of impressive film during their excellent college careers and could be top-10 picks regardless of how much or how little they did in terms of testing leading up to the draft.

Odunze helped lead the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national championship game behind a dominant season of 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. It was his second straight year with more than 1,100 receiving yards.

There is very little he couldn’t do with the speed to beat cornerbacks on deep balls and the hands to come down with contested catches. He was also elusive and physical enough after the catch to pick up additional yardage and will surely be a key part of whichever offense selects him come draft day.

B/R’s NFL Scouting Department projected him to go No. 6 overall in its latest mock draft, which was behind Harrison (No. 4) and ahead of Nabers (No. 7).

“This year’s group of wide receivers is stacked, particularly at the top, where someone like Washington’s Rome Odunze could be the WR1 in almost any other class,” the mock draft said.

Skipping Washington’s pro day isn’t going to change that perception of Odunze, especially since he participated in receiver drills and testing at the combine and showcased his overall athleticism.

That, along with his overwhelming production in college, should be enough to land him near the top of the draft board.