While reports have indicated some teams prefer Malik Nabers to Marvin Harrison Jr., Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline offers a stance that could further muddy the waters among the draft’s top wide receivers. Several teams have Rome Odunze slotted higher than Nabers on their big boards. Although transfers have populated the QB ranks in this class, the top three receivers only played at one school. Odunze starred at Washington for the past two seasons, posting two 1,100-yard campaigns and elevating his stock further last year. He clocked a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, a tenth slower than Nabers ran at LSU’s pro day. Odunze, who booked visits with the Cardinals, Bears and Jets, did not run at his pro day.
The 6-foot-3, 212-pound talent ripped off 10 100-yard games last season, including five straight to help the Huskies into the CFP national championship game. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board slots Odunze fifth overall — one spot behind Nabers — while Daniel Jeremiah agrees with the teams that have Odunze higher, ranking the Washington prospect third overall — between Harrison and Nabers. All three could be gone in the top seven or eight choices. This certainly raises the stakes for the Cardinals, who have a glaring WR need and have been linked to a trade-down move from No. 4.
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.
I’d argue that the Lions were in need of a corner even before Sutton’s inauspicious release. The Davis trade helps, but even with him on board the boundary corner spot needed an upgrade. Davis isn’t bad himself, and is a reliable corner with experience, but Detroit still needed a number one boundary cover man anyway. Sutton was not that player.
As for Pittsburgh, I think that the Donte Jackson trade strongly forecasts interest in a speedy corner. Jackson’s claim to fame coming out of college was his speed, and he used that throughout his career to help adjust in coverage. His Achilles injury really hurt his athleticism last year, but bringing him aboard, with his history of style of pkay, tells me that the Steelers are taking a chance on his speed improving again. I think that it’s pretty clear, though, that Jackson is more of a contingency “if it works, awesome” type of acquisition than a true plan A. The Steelers probably want a speedy cover man in the secondary in the draft, and given that I think that speed is a big factor for them, Wiggins makes a lot of sense as being their target (or one of them).
Problem is, their other glaring needs take precedence over this position and generally speaking, the speed merchants are gone by the time they look to add
Have to think center, o-line and wide receiver are their first goals, with d-line right behind it
Looking forward to this draft. Should be interesting here
They haven’t played with a center in like 3-4 years why start now. They need 3 WRs because outside of pickens the rest of the depth chart are useless scrap heaps. Need a tackle too.
I’ll take the offense that included Pouncey at center over the one that’s been absent a competent center for the past 3-4 years. That’s the anchor of the o-line, the gel. All aspects simply perform better
And no, they need a good number 2 wideout in a deep draft. They may still land someone like Aiyuk.
The offense with Pouncey wasn’t absent at QB though. We’ve been absent at QB for 2 years and honestly at the end of Ben’s tenure too. They may still be absent at QB and a C isn’t going to change the landscape of the putrid offense. Especially with loser receivers (outside of GP). We tend to forget that Mason Cole played pretty well his first year here (awful last year though), and guess what the offense still sucked because it was led by terrible QB’s…
They’re not landing Aiyuk, or any of those guys get that out of your mind. The price is outrageous. They should’ve gave the 2 next year up for Diggs. But instead they’re content with Van Jefferson (lol), Quez Watkins (lol x2), and Calvin Austin (lol x7) to waste space on the field. Pickens goes down you can’t count on a rookie and 3+ losers. They NEED more than 1 WR in the draft. It’s simple.
You don’t have to argue it. I thought the Lions needing help at corner was common knowledge at this point, kind of like the Bears needing a QB.
An Injured player recovering lost speed seems about as unlikely as the Pirates maintaining that 75% win percentage they now have.
Outside of the Bengals taking Chase high, what team has a receiver elevated to new heights? Legit question. Even with Chase, he greatly benefited from the other two receivers that he walked into playing aside on his rookie deal. We’re going to see teams make this mistake again. It’s why I’m almost certain Harbaugh isn’t taking a receiver. He’ll target the best offensive lineman in this draft or a good defensive piece since the Charger defense stunk last year. I still can’t get over that Calvin Johnson was a Hall of Famer and was part of an 0-16 team. Receivers are important, but you should never take them this high on a rebuilding team.
Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, AJ Brown.
None of those guys were top five draft picks. Jefferson was the only first rounder in the group you named, so thanks for making my point.
Adding Donte jackson is like adding a one legged running back he’s useless
Please, PLEASE DeJean to Philly (Freudian Slip made me type his name “DeJawn”, it’s destiny).
4 qb, 3 wr, 2 ot and Brock bowers in the top ten with no defensive players would be pretty interesting.