Is Rome Odunze Primed For a Breakout Combine?

Matt "Money" Smith discusses Rome Odunze being a potential combine standout on Bleav in Chargers.

The 2024 NFL Draft is nearly upon us, but the world must first experience the NFL Combine. The Combine exists as one final chance for NFL-hopeful players to showcase their physical prowess to teams waiting to draft them. 

In terms of the wide receivers in the draft, much of the attention has been on Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU's Malik Nabers. However, there is one potential breakout that could emerge. That is Washington's Rome Odunze, who Matt "Money" Smith believes could be a huge surprise. He discusses Odunze's size and capabilities on Bleav in Chargers. 

"I think that's the number one takeaway for me as well. It's not the best 53, it's the right 53 and the way that Jim Harbaugh wants to play football, the way that Jesse Minter wants to coordinate a defense, the way that Greg Roman wants to coordinate the run game and build an offense around toughness may not necessarily line up with a lot of fans in terms of who they think is the best player on the board when the Chargers are on the clock." 

via Matt Smith, Bleav in Chargers

Fans can often be overzealous in their "dream" picks for the draft. However, that decision will be up to Harbaugh, Hortiz, and the front office. Everyone has pegged Nabers to the team, but maybe Odunze is the more physical WR that the team needs.

"Rome Odunze is going to light up the combine. There's a lot of talk about Marvin Harrison and Malik Nabers. And for whatever reason...this is just anecdotal...what I'm dealing with on social media right now. There's a lot of Rome Odunze, I don't want to say hate but just wait. Wait to see what this guy weighs in at. How tall he is, what he looks like, and how he carries that weight out there. That is going to be one of the names. I firmly believe that when we leave Indianapolis, people are going to be talking about, 'whoa, that's that's a different level.' That's a big dude moving like that."

via Matt Smith, Bleav in Chargers

Smith believes that Odunze is going to be that sleeper player that impresses everyone at the combine. Should he do so, the Chargers could find themselves picking the Washington WR at pick #5.