Revisiting Malek Nabers VS Rome Odunze

[MightyGiants]

With the information we have learned from Hard Knocks and the Giants player interview series, I have been reconsidering the debate between the two receivers.

I still think Odunze is the safer pick and the higher-character guy.  You would be bringing in a boy scout if you drafted him.

However, something struck me in the Giants QB interviews.  Drew Lock talked about needing a WR who could get open on his own when a defense went man-to-man.   I don't know if you could say Odunze could do that.  He is bigger, but his 40-year-old years were unimpressive, and he didn't have any special agility traits.  He was known as a contested ball catcher (not a favorite of mine).   With Nabers, you have a guy who can get uncovered when covered man to man.  Plus, he will give you bonus yards for more YAC.  As long as the Giants can manage Nabers bigger personality, he is the superior receiver.

[Ed Vette]

I would have drafted Rome and I still would.

[President Rick]

"Rome" wasn't built in a day.  I say we give Nabers some time to show us what he can do and the kind of person he is.  He's the guy we took so we have to hope he becomes worthy of that early 1st round pick.

[MightyGiants]

I would have drafted Rome and I still would.

I liken this choice to the game show (I forget the name of it), where you could keep your current prize or cash or trade it in for the mystery prize.  The mystery prize could be of greater or lesser value.  With Rome, you get a solid, safe pick who will likely be good to sometimes Pro-Bowl good.  With Nabers, you are getting a player who could be a bust to a perennial All-Pro.

[T200]

I liken this choice to the game show (I forget the name of it), where you could keep your current prize or cash or trade it in for the mystery prize.  The mystery prize could be of greater or lesser value.  With Rome, you get a solid, safe pick who will likely be good to sometimes Pro-Bowl good.  With Nabers, you are getting a player who could be a bust to a perennial All-Pro.

Let's Make A Deal

I think they are both alphas. Nabers is more outgoing and demonstrative while Odunze is more of a quiet, reserved leader.

I respect both but I think the Giants would benefit more from Nabers as they really have no identity offensively.

[Bob In PA]

I would have drafted Rome and I still would.

Ed: Me too, but the gamble is likely to work out in the Giants' favor, IMO.

The Giants need "electric" and Odunze is not electric.

Further, Jones needs to change his diaper and take a few shots, and I'd rather have him taking those shots to the new guy.  If Giants had drafted Odunze, the shots would have been to Slayton and Hyatt.  Although I do trust them, neither has yet shown any quality resembling a truly elite NFL receiver. If Odunze proves to be "elite" it won't IMO be a type of "elite" the Giants (and Jones) need.

Bob

[Painter]

Second-guessers or fickle fingers. Is there a meaningful difference? When I gave Copilot a chance to rewrite it, it suggested, " Second-guessers or fickle fingers, are they significantly different? Gee! I never thought of it that way.   

Cheers!

[Ed Vette]

Ed: Me too, but the gamble is likely to work out in the Giants' favor, IMO.

The Giants need "electric" and Odunze is not electric.

Further, Jones needs to change his diaper and take a few shots, and I'd rather have him taking those shots to the new guy.  If Giants had drafted Odunze, the shots would have been to Slayton and Hyatt.  Although I do trust them, neither has yet shown any quality resembling a truly elite NFL receiver. If Odunze proves to be "elite" it won't IMO be a type of "elite" the Giants (and Jones) need.

Bob

Bob, I have an open mind but from the beginning, I saw Rome as a better match for Daniel Jones. He gets open and he makes contested catches. He's not going to go all wack on DJ when he doesn't see him or get him the Ball. He won't improvise on routes and screw DJ up. He won't be a Diva.

With Nabors I have at least four camera clicks so far. I don't like how he answered the questions about hating to lose. How he responded to Schoen on his draft call, the gun incident and allowing himself to be filmed in a strip Club.

Hopefully this will pass and he becomes the greatest Receiver the Giants have ever had.

[Bob In PA]

He's not going to go all wack on DJ when he doesn't see him or get him the Ball.

Ed: Here is the same view from my prior note expressed from a different perspective.

The Giants need a QB with the type of status an "elite" NFL QB enjoys.

If Jones can't get enough respect IMMEDIATELY from a rookie to make the rookie "leery" of complaining, then Jones is finished in the NFL. I want to see the Giants stop "coddling" Jones at this point in the their attempted re-birth as an NFL contender. Either he can and will immediately raise his level of play to (or near) the "elite" category or he will not. This is his sh!t or get off the pot year.

Bob

PS. Note that my posts still conclude (at the very bottom) with the Jeff Hostetter reference.

[todge]

With the information we have learned from Hard Knocks and the Giants player interview series, I have been reconsidering the debate between the two receivers.

I still think Odunze is the safer pick and the higher-character guy.  You would be bringing in a boy scout if you drafted him.

However, something struck me in the Giants QB interviews.  Drew Lock talked about needing a WR who could get open on his own when a defense went man-to-man.   I don't know if you could say Odunze could do that.  He is bigger, but his 40-year-old years were unimpressive, and he didn't have any special agility traits.  He was known as a contested ball catcher (not a favorite of mine).   With Nabers, you have a guy who can get uncovered when covered man to man.  Plus, he will give you bonus yards for more YAC.  As long as the Giants can manage Nabers bigger personality, he is the superior receiver.

Reading numerous scouting reports - Nabers has better quickness, separation ability and YAC skills.  While Odunze is the safer pick, I think the Giants chose Nabers because he complements what they already have on their team.

[Gman329]

Sounds like Nabers has the higher upside and higher risk factor.  Ain't that always the way? Still, I would have made the same pick.   

[MightyGiants]

Some people watching Hard Knocks came away thinking Shane preferred Odunze while Daboll and Perhaps Brown liked Nabers.

[Philosophers]

Big, strong guys are more than contested catches.  They have a way to use their body to block the defender from having a shot at blocking the pass coming into the WR.  They also have strength to push off and get separation in ways a ref does not see.

[nb587]

There were pundits who had Nabors as the best WRs going into the draft. I don't remember any picking Odunze as the top guy.  Either way, I'm going to wait at least for a few games before I answer the question

[H-Town G-Fan]

Scheme matters, too. Nabers is far more in the mold of WRs that were favored in Buffalo. Acceleration, YAC, and versatility are at a premium.

Odunze is a classic X. I think he will be a good WR, but Nabers jumps off the screen to me when I watch him. When I watched Odunze, I thought: "Wow, Penix dropped it right over the CBs shoulder!"