Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft starting on April 25th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up...
Rome Odunze (Wide Receiver), Washington, Senior
Rome Odunze stands in at 6'3" tall, weighing 212lbs, and is one of the premier wide receiver prospects in this draft class.
Steelers Overview
Odunze proved everyone wrong by returning to school and improving his draft stock, despite potentially moving from the WR1 in 2023 to the WR3 in 2024. His blend of size, body control, agility, and ball skills make him a complete package that can be utilized in multiple ways with the potential to be a team's top wide receiver very early in his career.
Pros:
- Great build and length
- Smooth runner with a long stride
- Tracks ball well in the air
- Elite body control when tracking the ball
- Late hands to not let the defender get their hands in the passing window
- Good speed
- Elusive with the ball in his hands to make defenders miss in space
- Consistent strong hands
- Strong throughout the route and catch point
- Team captain, great leader
Cons:
- Settles for contested catches at times when he should be able to increase separation
- Top of routes can be lack luster at times
- Doesn't take the time to sell double moves effectively
- Not the elite level athlete that the top two prospects are
The Steelers have questions about what their wide receiver room will look like this season, and definitely the future. Trade rumors surround Diontae Johnson and he is a free agent after the season, and Allen Robinson will need to take a pay cut to remain with the team. George Pickens has his spot secured, but Steeler Nation is still worried about his immaturity on the sideline. With all these questions, a consistent producer like Odunze, who is a very mature player and good leader, could be exactly what that positional group needs. All of this likely played a role in them deciding to meet with him at the 2024 NFL Combine.
Route Running and Separation
This is the area of Odunze's game that needs the most improvement. Don't get me wrong, he is a good route runner and can get separation from his defender. However, there is room for improvement at the top of his routes so that he can get more consistent separation, as well as not settling for contested catches when he has a chance to make the throw easier for his quarterback. Odunze is good enough in this area to contribute early on, but adding these details can take his game to the next level.
Athleticism and RAC
Odunze is a good athlete that is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He is slippery in the open field and is able to consistently pick up extra yards. While he is a very good athlete, he isn't the elite athlete like some will be enamored with coming out of the combine. Don't let that distract from his ability, because he has plenty of speed and athleticism to do whatever is needed on the field.
IQ and Hands
Something that isn't always talked about a lot from the wide receiver position is their IQ on the field, but Odunze excels in this area as he understands how to manipulate the defender to gain position and not let them know the ball is coming by flashing late hands. He is also an exceptional leader both in the locker room and on the field, which comes as a much needed bonus at a position that often can lead to a lot of individual personalities competing.
Odunze also has spectacular hands as he has made incredibly acrobatic catches throughout his college career, and outside of a few body catches, has very strong hands that rarely drops any passes.
NFL Comparison - Tee Higgins
Steelers fans will either be very happy or angry seeing this comparison. If he ends up on the Steelers, many fans would be very happy as Higgins has constantly been a terror when playing against them. However, if he ends up in the division, it could be yet another player the Steelers struggle against. Both of these players are very talented with the ball in the air and possess very good athleticism that they pair with a great frame.
Draft Projection - Top 20 Overall Pick
Even being the third wide receiver taken, Odunze could end up a top 10 pick. There is zero chance he falls out of the top 20, especially since that is where the Steelers currently sit.
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