2024 NFL Draft: Fred Taylor 'Wouldn't Be Surprised' to See Jaguars Trade Up For Rome Odunze

Could the Jaguars trade into the top-10 for the Washington star?
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

Would a blockbuster trade into the top-10 shock the masses in Jacksonville? Perhaps, but one Jaguars legend doesn't seem like he would be too surprised.

Hosting Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, who is widely projected as a top-10 pick, on The Pivot podcast, Jaguars legend Fred Taylor noted that he wouldn't be surprised to see Jacksonville make a major move up the board.

"I love watching @RomeOdunze play ball and wouldn’t be surprised if the @Jaguars moved up into the top 10 of this years @nfl draft to select him. He’s as special a person as he is talented," Taylor posted on X.

Odunze has been labeled as one of the three best wide receiver prospects in the class for months. He is widely seen as a top-10 lock along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, which means the Jaguars would have to potentially offer a future first to another team in the top-10.

The Jaguars met with Odunze at the NFL Scouting Combine and could be in the market for a No. 1 wide receiver after losing Calvin Ridley in free agency. The Jaguars do have Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram on the depth chart still, but a potential move for a top wideout prospect could still be on the table as a potential homerun move to keep pace with the Houston Texans and the rest of the AFC South.

Odunze appeared in four games in 2020, catching six passes for 72 yards and no touchdowns. He then stepped into a larger role in 2021, appearing in nine games and starting seven on his way to 41 catches for 415 yards and four touchdowns.

Odunze then burst onto the scene in 2022, appearing in 12 games and starting eight while catching 75 passes for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns, earning Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-Pac-12 honors as he led the Pac-12 in receiving yards.

Named a team captain in 2023, Odunze appeared in 15 games and starting 14 as he caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named a consensus All-American and a First-Team All-Pac-12 player as a result.


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John Shipley
JOHN SHIPLEY

John Shipley has been covering the Jacksonville Jaguars as a beat reporter and publisher of Jaguar Report since 2019. Previously, he covered UCF's undefeated season as a beat reporter for NSM.Today, covered high school prep sports in Central Florida, and covered local sports and news for the Palatka Daily News. Follow John Shipley on Twitter at @_john_shipley.