NFL Analysis
4/25/24
3 min read
Rome Odunze NFL Draft 2024: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Chicago Bears WR
The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Rome Odunze.
Rome Odunze 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6'3''
- Weight: 212 lbs
- 40-Time: 4.45 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds
- Vertical: 39"
- Broad Jump: 10'4"
- 3-Cone: 6.88 seconds
- Shuttle: 4.03 seconds
Rome Odunze 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS:
- Outstanding size and length with smooth athleticism and an underlying subtle suddenness to his movement.
- Stride length is a significant trait, especially with free access off the line of scrimmage. He eats up ground and breaks down cushions.
- Showed a second gear on double moves, with the sudden burst and acceleration to run by aggressive corners.
- There were snaps vs. press man where he won off the LOS and got on top of and then stacked the corner.
- Played under control with smooth measured efficiency but at times flashed a subtle suddenness.
- Consistently showed excellent hands. He made catches away from his frame with arm extension and body control.
- 2023 – Significant snaps out of the slot. He showed the location versatility to be a factor both outside and inside.
- Caught the ball easily with his hands. He's a ball snatcher who was effective in making well-covered contested catches.
- Deceptive vertical speed with his smooth release off the LOS, especially with free access and his natural stride length.
- Showed outstanding body control to adjust to throws away from the initial route. He's an easy catcher of the football
- Smooth and fluid run after catch with a gliding feel to his movement. He also has a physical competitive presence.
WEAKNESSES:
- Smooth, measured and controlled in his movement but not sudden or explosive. He lacked a consistent extra gear.
- Not a straight-line vertical dimension re: running by and getting on top of corners, especially vs. press man.
- Did not face many snaps of press man coverage in 2022. Did not work 1-on-1 vs. corners often.
- There will be legitimate questions concerning his ability to separate and win vs. quality man coverage.
- 2023 – Much more of a one-speed receiver than an explosive second-gear receiver. He did not show that extra juice.
NFL TRANSITION:
Odunze is a strong prospect with a higher-level traits profile, given his size, movement and catching ability. What stands out most with Odunze is his exceptional hands consistently. He showed the ability to catch the ball away from his frame, making contested catches on the sideline and in the middle of the field.
He showed this on deep balls, including the control to contort his body to adjust to back shoulder and poorly thrown balls. He is outstanding going up and getting the ball at its highest point, with the body flexibility to adjust to any throw.
Odunze can line up outside and inside, and there is a smoothness and fluidity to his route running that at times makes everything look easy. While he is not a true vertical dimension with the desired long speed, his size, stride length and uncanny ability to track the deep ball allow him to be a factor even if he has not created meaningful separation from the corner.
What Odunze lacks, based on tape study, is explosiveness, long speed and the natural quickness and burst to get in and out of breaks with juice. Overall, I believe he can be a quality NFL wide receiver who can give an offense location versatility as an X, Z and a slot.
He will always be consistent in catching the ball. His ability to make tough contested catches cannot be overstated, and that trait will be a big factor in his transition to the next level.
OTHER NOTES:
Odunze attended Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, where he was also a sprinter. He won the Nevada 4A state title in the 200m and 400m relay.
In 2022, Odunze almost exclusively lined up outside to the field and the boundary. There were snaps in empty formations in which he was in the slot.
In 2023, Odunze had 140 targets, 43 of which came from the slot (31 percent of his targets). He had 30 catches for 508 yards with 16.9 yards per catch out of the slot.
