NFL Draft: Wide receiver class is stacked, even if Marvin Harrison Jr. is No. 1

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the No. 1 wide receiver — and maybe overall player — in this draft.

But that doesn’t mean the receiver class isn’t loaded. Here’s a look at why fans should be excited to add a wideout at the NFL Draft.

Percentile ranking in statistics listed is among the 598 FBS wide receivers that ran 500 or more routes since 2019.

Big Board rank: 5th

Things that make you go ‘mmmm’ (like Homer Simpson)

Odunze doesn’t just check every box you would want in a modern NFL wide receiver, he checks and circles them with a Sharpie. Odunze has great size but is a fluid athlete that can win at all three levels with his combination of strength and body control. There aren’t a ton of throws that Odunze cannot come down with; his catching range is that wide and hand strength that strong.

He can win in multiple ways against press, has a diverse route tree from both inside and outside alignments, and can create with the ball in his hands because of his contact balance and agility. There’s useful players, then there are players like Odunze who will get a first down on a screen, do the dirty work in the run game to open up a lane for his teammate, then finish the drive with a play like this:

“Scheme-proof” is one of the highest compliments I can give a player, and Odunze feels as scheme- and situation-proof as they come at the wide receiver position. I have mentioned this comparison every time I’ve brought up Odunze, but he reminds me of a super version of Chris Godwin.

Things that make you go ‘mmmm’ (like Marge Simpson)

Odunze is more good in some areas (long speed, yard after catch ability, route running) than excellent, and may be already fairly close to his ceiling (which is still high) as his game already shows plenty of polish.

Career stats (percentile rank)

Routes: 1,280

Yards per route run: 2.6 (89th)

First downs per route run: 11.1% (91st)

Explosive reception per route run: 6.2% (94th)

Big Board rank: 9th

Things that make you go ‘mmmm’ (like Homer)

The…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-03-29 21:56:51

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