Giants Country

Bruce Feldman Mocks This Receiver to the Giants at Six

The Athletic's college football reporter thinks this tall sticky-handed receiver would be the best fit for the Giants at No. 6.

Patricia Traina

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) against the Michigan
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) against the Michigan / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Quarterback or receiver? Depending on who you ask and the day of the week, the New York Giants selection at No. 6 could go either way. But for those who do mock drafts, it's picking one position or the other (or another), and Bruce Feldman, college football reporter for The Athletic, has shared his opinion on which way he thinks the Giants will go if they stay at six in the draft order.

“The Giants have an underwhelming quarterback situation with Daniel Jones returning and Drew Lock now in the mix,” Feldman said. “I could see them tempted to get into the top three for a promising QB, but receiver is also a big need, and here they’ll have their choice of two studs in Odunze and Malik Nabers. Both are dazzling, but after drafting a blazer from the SEC last year in Jalin Hyatt, the hunch is they go for the bigger, more physical Odunze.”

Odunze is definitely a top-three receiver prospect worthy of consideration, but he has often been ranked as the third of the top-three receivers (Marvin Harrison Jr and Malik Nabers being the others) by major web sites such as Pro Football Focus, FOX Sports, and CBS Sports.

But why Odunze for the Giants? Explains Feldman:

“The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Odunze isn’t quite as fast as Nabers, but he is really explosive. The former track standout from Las Vegas clocked a 4.45 40 at the combine with a 1.52 10-yard split, a 39-inch vertical, and a 4.03 shuttle time. His film is even more impressive than his workout numbers. Last season, he had 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. Everyone who has been around him comes away impressed. His ball skills are truly elite.”

Odunze’s coaches and opposing coaches alike have raved about the talented receiver and his potential in the National Football League.

“His focus is awesome,” a former Washington assistant told The Athletic, adding that Odunze would come back to the sideline and could tell coaches exactly how many times the ball rotated before it got to him. From the feedback I got from NFL folks and others who had been around him during the combine run-up, I came away thinking that Odunze is the other receiver alongside Harrison closest to being a can’t-miss prospect.”

The standout wide receiver left an impression on an anonymous opposing coach who says Odunze’s strength and ability to track the ball make him a great prospect for a team looking for a receiver.

“(He is) as good as we’ve faced (in two decades as a college coach). Unbelievable with the ball in the air. Fantastic hands,” the coach said. “Very good route runner. Good size. Good competitor. He is as good at tracking the ball as I’ve ever seen. That 50-50 ball, he had to have been 85 percent or better at those.”

“He can play inside or outside and eat you up. He’s very polished and has a lot in his bag. He makes great adjustments and is very, very strong. He’s the alpha receiver who bullies guys whenever there’s a contested catch. I know people talked a lot about Marvin Harrison, and we never played him, but if he’s better than this guy, man, that’s really saying something.”

The Giants, for their part, have a decent receivers room with Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt headlining the group. But they have not had a legitimate No. 1 receiver or a wideout to score a 1,000-yard season since 2018 when Odell Beckham Jr was on the team.

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.