While reports have suggested that some teams favor Malik Nabers above Marvin Harrison Jr., Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com takes a position that may further cloud the decision-making process among the best wide receivers in the draft.
Rome Odunze is ranked higher than Nabers by a number of teams on their big boards. This class’s quarterback ranks have been heavily loaded by transfers, but the top three receivers only attended one school. Over the previous two seasons, Odunze was a standout player at Washington, recording two seasons with 1,100 yards and greatly boosting his stature last year. His 40-yard sprint time at the Combine was 4.45 seconds, which was one tenth slower than Nabers’ time from LSU’s pro day. On his pro day, Odunze did not run. He scheduled visits with the Cardinals, Bears, and Jets.
Last season, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound player had 10 100-yard games, including five in a row that helped the Huskies advance to the CFP national championship game. Daniel Jeremiah agrees with the teams that have Odunze higher, rating the Washington prospect third overall, between Harrison and Nabers. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board has Odunze ranked fifth overall, one spot behind Nabers. Each of the three could be selected from the top seven or eight options. For the Cardinals, who have a clear need at wide receiver and have been connected to a trade-down from No. 4, this definitely ups the ante.
Here is the latest coming out of the draft:
- In addition to Nabers’ Cardinals visit this week, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes he made a trip to Los Angeles to meet with the new Chargers staff. The Chargers having jettisoned Keenan Allen and Mike Williams makes them an obvious team to monitor for one of the top receivers. If the Cardinals trade out of No. 4, L.A. would be positioned to land the draft’s top WR prospect at 5. Of course, the Chargers have also been linked to moving down. And Jim Harbaugh‘s past and some recent comments have made it worth monitoring if the Bolts value a receiver this high.
- After suffering a broken fibula in November, Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean is ready for football work. The highly touted cover man sent a letter to all 32 teams informing them he is cleared for all football actitives, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. DeJean will hold a workout April 8 in Iowa City. Jeremiah ranks the ex-Hawkeyes standout 25th on his big board; Kiper has the 6-1 defender 21st. DeJean, who notched five INTs and three pick-sixes as a sophomore in 2022, left school early despite the injury.
- The Jaguars are spending some time on other corners in this draft, specifically those from Alabama. They used “30” visits on both Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The Buccaneers and Lions also met with McKinstry, according to Schultz and the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. The Jags cut two-year starter Darious Williams but replaced him with Ronald Darby, though the latter is 30 and tied to a two-year deal that features a fairly easy out in 2025. Cameron Sutton‘s arrest and ensuing release leaves the Lions in need at corner, despite Detroit having signed Amik Robertson and traded for Carlton Davis. The Bucs trading Davis frees up a spot at corner in Tampa opposite Jamel Dean. Arnold rates higher than McKinstry, who came into last season as a better prospect. Jeremiah ranks McKinstry 36th overall. More visits are likely, considering McKinstry sat out the Combine with a toe fracture but still clocked a 4.47-second 40 time (at Alabama’s pro day) despite not yet undergoing surgery.
- Nate Wiggins clocked a blazing 4.28 time at the Combine, elevating his stock. The Clemson product visited the Steelers on Thursday, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Chris Adamski. A first-team All-ACC choice who posted two pick-sixes with the ACC program, Wiggins played all three of his college seasons at Clemson. The Steelers releasing Patrick Peterson but added Donte Jackson. The trade pickup’s contract expires after 2024, however, and the 6-foot-1 Wiggins is among those the team is looking into as a longer-term option opposite Joey Porter Jr.
