The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a week away and 257 athletes lives are about to change. Players can’t choose where they go but during pre-draft interviews, players tend to shoot their shots with their favorite teams. With the NFL Draft around the corner, it’s time to see where the top stars in this year’s draft prefer to end up come training camp.
Rome Odunze has officially solidified himself as a blue-chip prospect and a top receiving prospect in this class. He is coming off a fantastic season with Washington which saw him and the Huskies in the title game. Odunze will be in Detroit on draft night and he is ready to find out who believes in him and is ready to give him a chance to be a wide receiver one.
Rome Odunze Is Making It Known Where He Wants To Play
In a recent interview, Odunze was asked about his feelings on the chance to land in Las Vegas with the Raiders. Odunze is a Las Vegas native and loves the idea of possibly playing with his college quarterback Michael Penix Jr. if he lands in Vegas as well.
Las Vegas is unlikely to go receiver in the first round but crazier things have happened. Rome Odunze has been compared to star receiver Davante Adams who he could learn behind if he ends up in Vegas. Odunze could be the choice if the Raiders choose to pick the best player available as most mock drafts have him going in the top 10.
Echoing Odunze’s remarks, the idea of reuniting with Michael Penix Jr in Vegas, while unlikely, could happen. Penix has the potential to be selected in the second round, and although it seems improbable, the Raiders could trade up to secure him at the back half of the first round. Such a scenario would be ideal for Las Vegas, given the explosive potential of the Penix-Odunze connection in the NFL. As the years go on it has become more and more common to reunite college teammates.
Some Other Likely Landing Spots For Odunze
New York Jets | Pick 10
The Jets are in a great spot to grab Aaron Rodgers a weapon and take some of the workload off of Garrett Wilson. Brock Bowers is the most mocked player for the Jets as of recently but Odunze has met with the Jets and would make an immediate impact on their offense. He could add another level of explosiveness to an offense that severely lacks it.
The main issue for the Jets concerning Odunze is that he may not be available by the 10th pick, meaning only a trade would work. Odunze possesses the talent to top many draft classes, so acquiring him at pick 10 would be a major win for the Jets. They could be the perfect team for Odunze. With Rodgers’s ability to elevate players, he could potentially transform Odunze into a receiver of Davante Adams caliber.
New York Giants | Pick 6
The other New York team could be just as interested in adding Odunze and they hold the upper hand over the Jets. The Giants pick four picks before the Jets and are more desperate for receiver help. Darren Waller is contemplating retirement and many of the young receivers haven’t been able to step up. Odunze would give the Giants a chance to develop an elite wide receiver and set their quarterbacks up for success.
If LSU’s Malik Nabers or Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. are available, then the Giants will likely select one of them. However, it seems increasingly improbable that either of the top two receivers will be available at pick 6. Rome Odunze should not be viewed as merely a consolation prize compared to the top two receivers in this class; he possesses both the determination and talent to become an elite NFL wide receiver.
Wild Card: New Orleans Saints | Trade Up
The Saints need another receiver with Micahel Thomas out and Olave being the only weapon. Rome Odunze would be the perfect player to ignite the Saint’s bland offense. The Saints would immediately replace Michael Thomas with a younger and healthier option. Odunze with Derek Carr could revive the slowly dying career of Carr who needs to perform to keep his job.
When looking through the teams that could potentially decide to trade back with the Saints a few stand out. The Bears and Titans both could trade back with the Saints to help bolster a weaker roster. The Titans are still a couple of years out from contention so stockpiling picks now could help in the long run so pick 7 should be on the trade block for the right price. They need an offensive tackle and this year’s depth at tackle could benefit them. The Bears have recently bolstered their receiver room so if they are comfortable with Caleb Williams’s weapons then pick 9 would be a great trade-back spot.
Main Photo: Junfu Han – USA Today Sports
