On the way to Indianapolis and Detroit, I fell in love with Rome

Why Washington’s Rome Odunze stands out at this draft’s best playmaker for the Cardinals

As I embarked on the journey of studying the top draft prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, I felt 99% convinced that TE/HB Brock Bowers was the perfect fit for the Cardinals, especially with regard to their 12 and 13 personnel and in terms of providing the team with an alpha dog style of leadership.

A week before the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, I devoted my efforts to watching film and interviews of Brock Bowers, Marvin Harrison jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. I was hoping to see all four of them show up and compete at the Combine the way 2023 NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. did.

Having studied a number of interviews prior to the Combine I already had a strong belief that Rome Odunze was going to crush this part of the process. The dude is a masterful communicator who speaks with tremendous articulation, football knowledge and passion.

I was very disappointed to learn that Bowers, Harrison and Nabers would not be running or participating in the drills.

Bowers’ and Nabers’ interviews with the media at Indy were solid, but not nearly as compelling or charismatic as Odunze’s. And then we learned that MHJ elected to leave Indy without speaking to the media.

As I said on yesterday’s Red Rain Podcast, the Combine interviews are as much for the fans as they are for the GMs and coaches.

For example, I loved watching Paris Johnson Jr.’s Combine interview last year, which made it all the more exciting to see the Cardinals pick him and then to see him talk so passionately about being a Cardinal, as his dad once was.

Being able to see the prospects live and in action during the testing, drills and media interviews at the Combine is a treat.

Therefore, to watch Rome Odunze put every ounce of effort he had into all of the testing and drills —- and then to see him stay on the field when all other participants had left in order to try to top his 3-cone score —- which was a good score (6.77) especially for a player 6-3, 206 —- spoke volumes about this young man’s tenacious character as a player, leader and goal setter.

Rome Odunze not only stood out among the WRs who were participating, he stood out among all of the players. He was a commanding and charismatic presence.

The more I watched the film of the top 3 WRs, it became more and more clear how Rome Odunze stands out as a wide receiver. Have a look at these “success by route” charts that “Reception Perception” tediously calculated on all of the top receivers in the draft.

Rome Odunze had the only fully green “Success By Route” chart in the 2024 WR draft pool. This proves what Rome says about his ability “to win at every level and starting point on the football field.”

Rome Odunze’s “A” Traits:

1. Route success.
2. Quickly defeating press coverage with his patented hop step and swim technique.
3. Contested catches —- at an extraordinary rate of 75% in 2023.
4. Tracking the football —- game after game he puts on a tracking clinic.
5. Timing of his hands on catches —- he is absolutely brilliant at this —- he understands that if he extends his arms too early, he gives the CB a better chance to disrupt the passing lane —-therefore Rome Odunze has developed a knack for waiting until the last second to then snap his hands to the ball with such quick precision that makes it nearly impossible for the CB to defend.
6. Bringing the kind of alpha leadership that helped the Huskies rebound from consecutive 4-win seasons to playing in the FBS National Championship Game two years later. Over the 2-year surge on their return national prominences the Huskies combined for 25 wins and 3 losses.
7. Playing through injuries and pain —- do yourself a favor and read this article with regard to how Rome Odunze handled breaking a rib and puncturing a lung versus the Arizona Wildcats and how he had to rent a car and drive 23 hours from Tucson to Washington —- all the while vowing he was going to play in the upcoming Oregon game (following their bye week):

How UW’s Rome Odunze endured a broken rib, a punctured lung and a 23-hour drive to overcome Oregon | The Seattle Times

Here are the guys from Reception Perception and this is their outstanding film analysis (with a pro comp of Rome Odunze to Davante Adams):

Look at how engaging, articulate and at ease Rome Odunze is in this interview at the Combine with Mike Flori and Chris Simms. Check out the reasons he gives for wanting to compete at the Combine:

The is no doubt in my mind that if Dan Campbell had to make the choice of what WR in this draft he would implore the Lions to acquire, he would jump on Rome Odunze.

I hope like crazy that Monti Ossenfort and Dave Sears are of the same mindset, because Rome Odunze is the epitome of the kind of player they want to bring to this football team. In essence, Rome Odunze checks every single box, big-time.

Which WR in this draft class is the most like Larry Fitgerald?

Hear what Daniel Jeremiah has to say about his “favorite player” in the 2024 NFL Draft:

Like Larry Fitzgerald, Rome Odunze is “punctual as a Star.”

Something also “special” about Rome (when needed):

Rome is #1

I came into the process feeling convinced that Brock Bowers would be the best playmaker for the Cardinals —- but on the road to Indy and Detroit, I fell in love with Rome.

• 2024 Favorite Offensive Player for the Cardinals —-> Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
• 2024 Favorite Defensive Player for the Cardinals —-> article coming tomorrow.