This is who Charlie Campbell has for us a 6th in his latest mock on WalterFootball:
6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants need a receiver upgrade and are in great position to land a No. 1 wideout. Between Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze, New York is in a safe spot to land a mismatch weapon.
Odunze played well in 2023, making some clutch catches and using his size to be a weapon on the sideline. He finished the year having caught 87 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. With Michael Penix at quarterback in 2022, Odunze broke out for Washington, recording 75 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns. Odunze (6-3, 212) has good size, but he could have problems separating from NFL defensive backs and will have to win on a lot of contested catches. Odunze is phenomenal at winning contested catches along the sideline because he is deadly on back-shoulder throws.
What would your reaction to this be, and why?
Here is the whole mock, in case anyone is interested:
https://walterfootball.com/draft2024charlie.php
Absolutely fine. He is a better complement to our existing receivers than Nabers (though I would not complain if it was him either) and would help whoever we field at QB and demand tight coverage that can create more space for others.
Despite the comment above he has perfectly respectable speed as well (a 4.4 not 4.6 guy) with size that makes him tough to jam. He only needs a half step given his big frame and strong hands. He had no issues in college and will not do with most NFL CB. He might not separate from the truly elite NFL QBs but he can still win with size and strength against most.
I'd have no problem with it. At 6, I think you have to for high-value positions (QB, WR, ER) and I trust that Schoen and company are doing their research at such a level that they will get the most bang for their buck. I'd be a little disappointed if they went with Bowers at 6, but I'd get over it because he's "a generational talent", if the beat writers are correct. I don't want them to draft a lineman at 6 or a DB...that'd be a real let down for me
Then G Jones cant be the QB
We seen what happens with a WR like this
Quote from: ralphpal1 on March 19, 2024, 06:24:11 PMThen G Jones cant be the QB
We seen what happens with a WR like this
What happens?
If we don't get a QB, I'd be more than happy with Nabers or Odunze.
If not a QB he's been my pick.
Quote from: Ed Vette on March 19, 2024, 07:09:26 PMIf not a QB he's been my pick.
I like him better than MHJ
I think Hakeem Nicks was only 6'0" but because he was such a great ball catcher with his hands, his radius was enormous. That matters more to me than just size. How he catches the ball.
Quote from: Philosophers on March 19, 2024, 07:39:22 PMI think Hakeem Nicks was only 6'0" but because he was such a great ball catcher with his hands, his radius was enormous. That matters more to me than just size. How he catches the ball.
Excellent point and example. Nicks was 6 foot and barely over 200, but he "played big." He also wasn't fast at all (4.63 40). And yet he was really effective. You can have all the physical gifts in the world but not everyone knows how to play. Look at Bryce Ford-Wheaton last year. Guy was a monster. We all hoped he could somehow make it work. But he couldn't. Some guys are just better football players than others, and there's a lot more to it than size and speed.
Quote from: ralphpal1 on March 19, 2024, 06:24:11 PMThen G Jones cant be the QB
We seen what happens with a WR like this
When did Jones have one?
Maybe ok, maybe not. I don't want them settling for leftovers.
I'm ok w/him if only one WR is already off the board. I'll be ecstatic w/him if no WR's have yet been taken.
If 2 WR's are gone and they take him, I'll have trouble believing the explanation that "he was the WR we had highest of the three (Harrison, Odunze, Nabers).
That could be true, but I'd bet my bottom dollar they would be lying.
In short... I'm most happy when they grab the very first guy taken at his position (regardless of position).
Bob
I would be pretty happy with Odunze. Have to wonder why that scouting report thinks separation will be an issue on the NFL, both the tape and the testing show that ability.
Love his ability to make contested catches and the catching radius.
I wouldn't have an issue, necessarily, with Odunze as the pick. Like Banks last year, Odunze is the guy I targeted early on as a preferred Giants pick.
But if I'm honest, I do find it a bit troubling to be picking WR3 with a pick as high as #6. When picking that high, you're usually getting the top guy at a position (or maybe 2 or 3 at QB). So even though I like Odunze as a player, part of me is down on the value we'd be getting picking the 3rd best guy at a less-premium position.
Quote from: Stringer Bell on March 20, 2024, 11:12:17 AMI wouldn't have an issue, necessarily, with Odunze as the pick. Like Banks last year, Odunze is the guy I targeted early on as a preferred Giants pick.
But if I'm honest, I do find it a bit troubling to be picking WR3 with a pick as high as #6. When picking that high, you're usually getting the top guy at a position (or maybe 2 or 3 at QB). So even though I like Odunze as a player, part of me is down on the value we'd be getting picking the 3rd best guy at a less-premium position.
I generally get this sentiment, but it doesn't account for years with particularly strong classes (and I think the sentiment is WR this year is just that). If Odunze would be a top WR in other years but-for the presence of MHJ, getting the "3rd best" in a class is relatively meaningless. It seems like selecting between Nabers and Odunze comes down to preference thing, so they're more 2A and 2B.
I am fine with the following prospects at 6 (or trading down)
JJ
Maye
Odunze
Nabers
MHJ
If they pick JJ at 6, I can accept that. If he's gone, take your pick at WR.
Quote from: Philosophers on March 19, 2024, 07:39:22 PMI think Hakeem Nicks was only 6'0" but because he was such a great ball catcher with his hands, his radius was enormous. That matters more to me than just size. How he catches the ball.
You will like Odunze then. Terrific hands.
I expect it to be either Nabers or Odunze at 6- leaning toward the former- to finally give the Giants the top-tier X-Receiver they haven't had since the days before OBJ began to flame out 4 going on 5 years ago.
Cheers!
Quote from: DaveBrown74 on March 19, 2024, 07:46:09 PMExcellent point and example. Nicks was 6 foot and barely over 200, but he "played big." He also wasn't fast at all (4.63 40). And yet he was really effective. You can have all the physical gifts in the world but not everyone knows how to play. Look at Bryce Ford-Wheaton last year. Guy was a monster. We all hoped he could somehow make it work. But he couldn't. Some guys are just better football players than others, and there's a lot more to it than size and speed.
BFW was so tantalizing for sure. Maybe he comes back from his injury and learns.
I will take another Nicks type hands catcher at 6'0" in a second.
Most elite Wrs have 4.5 speed so I don't know why teams look for crazy speed when ok works perfectly fine.
we need an alpha receiver. if hes a better WR prospect than any of the qb prospects at 6, do it. Mike evans has been elite his entire career with for the most part, a revolving door of blah qbs. larry fitzgerald also only had a smaller chunk of solid qb play. Im not saying he's going to turn jones into a star, but we have NOTHING at receiver. Slayton is what he is, a solid #3, wandale is a slot guy, hyatt is a decent deep threat. none of them are close to an alpha receiver. odunze would come in and be THAT guy day 1. very good size, very good speed, elite ball/jump skills. Taking mccarthy at 6 is basically taking jones all over again. yes we need qb help. but you dont pass on a guy this good, especially when its truly a position of need.
I agree we go WR at 6. What if Pennix is there when we pick in the second? Do you go for him then even with the injury history:
Year Injury
2018 Torn right ACL
2019 Dislocated right SC joint (non-throwing shoulder)
2020 Torn right ACL
2021 Separated left AC joint (throwing shoulder)
Thoughts?
Quote from: WheresDayne on March 21, 2024, 10:50:13 AMI agree we go WR at 6. What if Pennix is there when we pick in the second? Do you go for him then even with the injury history:
Year Injury
2018 Torn right ACL
2019 Dislocated right SC joint (non-throwing shoulder)
2020 Torn right ACL
2021 Separated left AC joint (throwing shoulder)
Thoughts?
From the tape ive watched he can't be effective unless he has a perfect pocket, which he won't have in the NFL.
Quote from: Philosophers on March 20, 2024, 05:03:37 PMBFW was so tantalizing for sure. Maybe he comes back from his injury and learns.
I will take another Nicks type hands catcher at 6'0" in a second.
I don't think the BFW experiment is over.
No offense to anyone here.
If you believe JJ is a solid GET @ #6, I would just like to remind every one of the last QB we took @ #6 overall.
Bigger games, and bigger wins but also carried by the OLINE, running game & defense for JJ.
If they're inclined to take him, they may as well stick with what they have. There's negligible difference, unless it's simply a "restart the clock" pick.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Quote from: andrew_nyGiants on March 22, 2024, 12:00:39 PMNo offense to anyone here.
If you believe JJ is a solid GET @ #6, I would just like to remind every one of the last QB we took @ #6 overall.
Bigger games, and bigger wins but also carried by the OLINE, running game & defense for JJ.
If they're inclined to take him, they may as well stick with what they have. There's negligible difference, unless it's simply a "restart the clock" pick.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Voice of reason here! I get the impression there's a faction here of "anyone but Jones!" and just want change for changes sake. I too don't get the impression that JJ McCarthy represents a short or long term gain over our existing options at QB.
Better than taking JJ, a good, not great talent. Its a huge need. And much better than trading up for JJ.
The Draftniks are saying "oh next year..it's a down year for qbs". We don't know that. Players emerge all the time (i.e. Daniels). Build up the roster with great players first like Odunze. It's far better to have a good qb on a great roster than even a great qb on a bad one. Anyone remember Tarkenton, Hall of Famer with the Giants? One winning season out of five.
As for me...the more I research, the more I realize how little I know how this draft will unfold. For weeks, it seemed the only smart thing to do was to trade down and accumulate assets. I no longer feel that way, but I could be wrong. Half of me thinks the Giants having workouts with all the QBs is nothing more than a smoke screen to get some QB starved team to empty their coffers to trade up, the other half of me tells me they're serious about a QB :-??
Also, the whole Waller drama..."will he stay or won't he"...seems like a smoke screen to me. Waller clearly stated that he was going to retire (perhaps to be able to be closer to his new wife Kelsey Plum, who is a star in Las Vegas), then out of freakin nowhere, we get a report that "he hasn't completely made up his mind". To me, I believe Schoen knows he is retiring, but realizes it best for other teams to think he might play another year...so did he collude with Waller to recant his retirement until after the draft? And if so, does this mean Schoen is interested in Brock Bowers and doesn't want him taken before the six spot? Bowers is every bit the pass-catching stud that the three big name WRs are...at 6'3/and a smidgen over 240 lbs, and a 4.4 guy, he's basically a slightly heavier WR who can also block, but really a pass catching freak of nature who has an incredible ability to get YAC as well as has the speed to take it to the house every time he gets the ball. He has a reputation for pulling in the toughest passes under every scenario. Would we go TE in the first, when he's anything but a traditional TE???
Letting Saquon walk, while simultaneously beefing up QB protection, signals that we are moving into a pass heavy team, so we need receivers of all types in order for that to work...so in my opinion, we will go with the top WR or Bowers with our first pick. I think looking at QBs is a ruse
Bottom line: I don't know! It will be very interesting to see what we do on draft day. I have a lot of faith in Schoen making a smart decision that will have long term benefits. I think EVERYTHING that is going on right now means nothing concerning what Schoen is planning. No way in hell is he ever going to show his cards at this time of the year - you can take that to the bank
I've been trying to guess what the Giants will do on draft day but it just makes my brain hurt. There's too many ways this can unfold and it doesn't make sense for me to try to make sense of it. I'll just concentrate my time on other things until they actually are on the board and then, hopefully, be satisfied or at least pleasantly surprised.
Quote from: Sem on March 22, 2024, 02:04:39 PMI've been trying to guess what the Giants will do on draft day but it just makes my brain hurt. There's too many ways this can unfold and it doesn't make sense for me to try to make sense of it. I'll just concentrate my time on other things until they actually are on the board and then, hopefully, be satisfied or at least pleasantly surprised.
Good luck with that =))
Jolly;
Georgia even used Bowers on jet sweeps. He's a super hybrid player. Just everything you want and more from the position. But I'd take #1 wr still.
Quote from: spiderblue43 on March 22, 2024, 03:15:46 PMJolly;
Georgia even used Bowers on jet sweeps. He's a super hybrid player. Just everything you want and more from the position. But I'd take #1 wr still.
I love Bowers; however, I love Harrison more. I think Harrison will be a once in a lifetime-type WR. He's got everything in his toolbox from size, speed, and God-given talent to catch footballs better than anyone else. But if he's gone, I think I'd take Bowers over Nabers and maybe even Odunze. Glad it's not my decision