Last year’s wide receiver class did not produce prospects on the level of the drafts from 2020-22, but this year’s crop is poised to supply a few teams with cornerstone talent.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers lead the way, but Rome Odunze also qualifies as a wideout with a clear path to becoming a top-10 pick. Odunze has already visited the Giants; the Washington product has more meetings lined up. This includes a return to the Big Apple for a Jets summit, with ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson adding the Cardinals and Bears are also set to host Odunze.
Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board places Harrison, Nabers and Odunze at Nos. 3-5, illustrating the talent available for WR-needy clubs. Evaluators are high on this year’s WR class, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who floats the possibility of a seven-wideout first round. That would eclipse the 2020 class’ six first-round receivers. Quarterback value has long been expected to prevent any of these players from becoming a top-three selection, barring something unexpected, which would leave the door open for some teams that have the QB box checked to exit Round 1 with some pass-catching value.
The Cardinals and Jets qualify, with the Bears on the doorstep of doing so due to their imminent Caleb Williams partnership. Arizona had negotiated an extension with Marquise Brown, but the Cardinals lost Brown in free agency months after cutting DeAndre Hopkins. They did not make a major addition, setting the stage for a receiver investment likely early in this draft. The Bears and Jets did make veteran moves, courtesy of the Chargers, with Chicago adding Keenan Allen and the Jets signing Mike Williams. Drafting a first-round wide receiver would create formidable depth charts for either team.
Arizona holds the No. 4 overall pick (though the team has been connected to moving down once again), while Chicago’s selection sits at No. 9 (eight spots after the Panthers-obtained pick set to go to Williams). The Jets are stationed at No. 10. New York chose a wideout 10th overall two years ago, taking Garrett Wilson. The Cardinals have 2023 third-rounder Michael Wilson, but of these teams, their depth chart is weakest.
Kiper viewed Odunze’s final season as the difference between being a Day 2 pick and having the chance to go in this year’s top 10. After a 1,145-yard 2022 slate, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound pass catcher broke through for a 1,640-yard, 13-touchdown showing to help Washington to the national championship game. Odunze produced 10 100-yard games last season, including five straight to lift the Huskies into the national title game.
Bringing size and plus run-after-catch ability to the equation, Odunze has not been mentioned as a player capable of leapfrogging Harrison — as Nabers has — but the recent Michael Penix Jr. target should be expected to be chosen early.
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