Mel Kiper Jr.: Rome Odunze's 'consistency' makes him a top-10 NFL Draft pick

One of the key pieces to Washington’s run to the national championship game this year, Rome Odunze also presents an interesting case in this year’s NFL Draft. He’s one of a handful of talented wide receivers in the top 10 of ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft, and he came in at No. 9 to the Chicago Bears on Tuesday.

Kiper is high on Odunze, and he thinks that’d be a home run pick for Chicago assuming he’s still on the board. Remember, the Bears have the No. 1 overall pick coming from the Carolina Panthers, and Kiper projected them to take Caleb Williams. That would give them quite the pairing of rookie talent alongside other skill players on the roster.

Odunze’s most important trait, according to Kiper, is his ability to be consistent. That helped him become a Biletnikoff Award nominee, and it’s why he’s right in the thick of a loaded wide receiver draft class.

“If he’s there, guys — if he’s there — Rome Odunze out of Washington. What a great pick he would be for the Bears,” Kiper said. “You get the QB, you get the go-to option opposite DJ Moore, are you kidding me? I think when you look at Odunze, the consistency that this kid was week in and week out. Fifteen games, right? Fourteen of those games, five or more receptions. The only game he didn’t — Utah — three receptions, 111 yards, two touchdowns. Against Oregon, he was uncoverable. And guess what? If Michael Penix Jr. would have been more accurate in that national title game, Odunze would’ve had two or three more receptions in that contest.

“6-3, 215 pounder, draws comparisons to Ja’Marr Chase. Rome Odunze may not be on the board, but in this mock, he slid down to nine. If he’s there, you’re talking about within seconds to get that card up. That’s what it would take me to get Rome Odunze’s name on the card to become a Chicago Bear.”

Odunze had a monster year as Penix’s top target, hauling in 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in Kalen DeBoer’s high-powered offense. It was his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and he took a big leap after totaling 1,145 yards in 2022.

But Odunze is Kiper’s WR3 in his first mock draft. He projected former Ohio State sensation Marvin Harrison Jr. as the top receiver on the board to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 overall, and former LSU star Malik Nabers to go No. 6 overall to the New York Giants. However, there’s still a chance for some movement as the pre-draft process continues, which means Odunze could go even higher than Kiper’s first prediction of the year.