Rome Odunze
WR Washington 6-3 215 SR #1
ARM LENGTH: 32 ¼ //HAND SIZE: 9 ¼ //40YD: 4.45 //10YD: 1.52 VJ: 39 //BJ: 10.4 //BP: — //SS: 4.03 //3C: 6.88
Projection: Starting X, will likely thrive in an offense that uses more west coast concepts but needs a QB who trusts his receivers to make plays and can make accurate, high velocity throws into tight windows. Early 1st Round (GrindingtheMocks.com)
Ravens Fit: Odunze is not an elite separator but he is elite at the catch-point. For a Ravens comparison, think Anquan Boldin. His fit with Lamar Jackson is therefore an important consideration, while Jackson has shown he clearly has the ability to make all types of throws to all types of receivers, he has shown more of a willingness to target elite separators (Hollywood Brown, Zay Flowers) than elite catch-point receivers. This means Odunze is lower on the Ravens fit score but is one of the best receivers in this class and warrants consideration.
Overall Fit 
3/5
Context
Plays mostly as the X receiver in Washington’s successful Air Raid offense surrounded by other solid to good receivers and a good Quarterback in Michael Penix Jr.
Before the Catch
He has a varied release package in terms of his technique with both footwork and hands. He can win off the line of scrimmage regularly facing press either with or without a jam utilizing both his technique and his play strength. His footwork on single and double moves off the line is effective, and he can unbalance defenders quickly. He uses quick and violent hands against a jam and has a variety of moves to deploy with his hands, particularly adept at using a wipe move to clear his hands, he can use his aggression and play strength to get a clean release. Against bail defenders he is expert at attacking leverage and get into the defender’s blind spot – this is deployed to best effect when running out or dig routes where he can break from this position of strength.
Where he struggles to release consistently is on vertical routes when facing off or bail coverage, he does not close cushion quickly enough and DBs with at least solid footwork are able to keep him in phase through the release portion of the route and into the stem. He does have a consistent stem and is able to gain separation through his technique and processing. He reads coverage and understands quickly what the DB is trying to do and how best to attack it. He executes hard-angle breaks and speed cuts at a high level, with no rise and making quick transitions on speed cuts, maintaining good posture, and snapping his face out of the break on hard angles. If a Defensive Back gets physical with him, he can match that physicality and win with his play strength and competitive toughness, he can chop or wipe to disengage hands in both the stem and at the breakpoint. Getting physical with him normally results in him gaining good separation. He also has an effective pressure step in this portion of the route and can set defenders up. He is effective on both 2-step and square cuts. Where he does not excel as much in terms of gaining separation is on vertical routes, he can attack with lean, but he isn’t able to threaten with enough speed against better CBs who can turn and stay in phase downfield. Against those DBs with very good play strength, he doesn’t always have the speed to put distance between himself and the defender after the break.
The Catch and after the Catch
He is elite at the catch-point, both with his hands and his body control and adjust to the football. He will catch all types of thrown ball, making sure to catch away from his body with the proper hand positioning on all types of thrown ball. He is able to make even the highest degree of difficulty contested catches, through his excellent ability to track the ball in all situations but also with the way utilizes late hands. He is particularly adept at making catches on the sideline and getting feet down in-bounds. His body position to make catches is elite and he can genuinely garner the moniker “open, even when he isn’t”. He has good YAC and can make defenders miss with change of direction in the open field as well as physicality but he will not run away from quicker DBs in space.
SUMMARY
Elite at the catch-point with ridiculous ball tracking, hands and body control. Varied release package, excellent technique through the route. Not an elite separator.
PRODUCTION SR: 131 TGTs, 87 REcs, 1553 Rec Yards (17.9 Ave), 13 Rec TDs JR: 110 Tgts, 75 Recs, 1145 Rec Yards (15.3 AVE), 7 Rec TD INJURY: Played through broken rib/punctured lung
RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 3
Intelligence 4
Versatility 3
Grit 4
Scheme 3
