Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Rome Odunze, Johnny Wilson, Xavier Legette, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint

It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here! The NFL Draft will come and go before we know it and rookie drafts will start flying daily. Before you dive head first into our Draft Simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end positional primers. Motrin and Tylenol can’t quell this fever. The only medicine is more dynasty rookie mock drafts. Let’s dive into a few notable dynasty rookie draft picks to consider.

2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice

Rome Odunze (Washington)

Stats:

2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice

Rome Odunze (Washington)

Stats:

2023 (among all FBS WRs minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 18th
- PFF receiving grade: 8th
- YAC per reception: 107th
2022 (among all FBS WRs minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 44th
- PFF receiving grade: 43rd
- YAC per reception: 185th
62nd percentile collegiate target share
84th percentile collegiate breakout age

Scouting Report:

Odunze makes special plays look easy so often that you have to remind yourself of the difficulties of some of the plays. He adjusted to an underthrown ball against Cal while splitting two incoming defenders like it was just another pitch and catch crosser. His film is littered with back-shoulder supremes and basket catches
He has special start/stop ability at his size, which helps him earn quick separation with ease. Odunze doesn’t have the most fluid hips but he has extremely quick feet, which do the heavy lifting when he needs to decelerate.
His skillset accesses another level when we discuss his body control and ball tracking. Odunze has an enormous catch radius with the ability to high point as well as easily adjust to poorly thrown balls behind him. There are numerous fade routes where he had to adjust to the ball in the air and he did so marvelously without losing speed using his effortless change of direction.
Odunze’s run after the catch skills are a treat as he gets up to top speed quickly. He also shows off his power from time to time, weaving through the interior with the vision and physical presence of a running back. In 2023, he was tied with Malachi Corley for 25th in missed tackles forced.
Odunze should be the immediate WR1 for whatever offense he lands with. He has alpha upside with the ability to threaten a defense at all three levels.

Player Comp: Terrell Owens

Johnny Wilson (Florida State)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 51st
- PFF receiving grade: 95th
- YAC per reception: 226th
2022 (minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 4th
- PFF receiving grade: 25th
- YAC per reception: 42nd

Scouting Report:

As a receiver, Wilson’s height shouldn’t have the fluidity that he does. His quick feet and smooth hips allow him to be a weapon in the short and intermediate areas. He sinks his hips better than you’d expect from a player with his height. Wilson can get open on a comeback or drag route for days. He has the quicks to get open versus corners and the raw strength to punish them after the catch. The sum of his skill parts allows him to produce YAC either from his surprisingly quick footwork or his upper body strength and leg drive.
This is not a knock on Wilson’s ability as a perimeter wide receiver but I want to see him converted to tight end in the NFL. He already has the requisite size with the ability to put on 10 pounds or so without losing his speed and quickness. If there’s a smart NFL franchise out there, they will be handsomely rewarded. Wilson can more than hold his own as a wide receiver. However, he would have ridiculous upside as a tight end. He has the skills to win versus linebackers and nickels all day.
Another reason to believe Wilson can make the jump to tight end is his blocking. As a run blocker, he is a dawg. He has the total strength package to drive guys off the mark and anchor them. Over the last three seasons, among all wide receivers with at least 90 run-blocking snaps, he has ranked eighth, 21st and first in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) run-blocking grade.
Wilson has a huge catch radius. He will adjust for low throws while also reaching high-point throws that few defenders can get to because of his size. He has plenty of catches in traffic on film to prove his strong hands. His 40.9% contested catch rate last year isn’t truly indicative of his talent — ball placement on some of his tight-window throws was sketchy at best. We also have to talk about his 12.8% drop rate in college. Wilson has plenty of concentration drops on film but I think this is something he can get cleaned up in the NFL. There are too many instances of him making special catches on his film (i.e., the one-handed grab versus Oklahoma in 2022).

Player Comp: Darren Waller

Xavier Legette (South Carolina)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 11th
- PFF receiving grade: 18th
- YAC per reception: 68th

Career
- 73.6% of his snaps as a boundary receiver

Scouting Report:

Legette is a long-striding boundary receiver. He plays bigger than his listed size suggests. He has superb back-shoulder ball skills and body control in the air. Legette has a big catch radius as he high points the ball well with a pair of strong hands.
He is a developmental wide receiver who needs to improve on the little things of the position. Legette has good deceleration at the top of his stem for his size but it can be inconsistent. He’ll have a few routes where he sharply drops his hips and decelerates, leaving corners searching, and then he’ll be lax and get clunky with his footwork at the top of his stem.
Legette needs to sell his vertical push more consistently. Many routes look strong but then he’ll sneak in some reps where he’s telegraphing his intentions. The need for consistency bleeds over into other areas of his game. He lacks consistent spatial awareness against zone drifting on some routes where he should put the brakes on in space.
His releases need work. Legette opts for speed releases on many routes, but he needs to continue to hone his footwork and add more release tactics to the tool bag. His footwork has to continue to improve if he hopes to gain separation off the line in the NFL, especially on short-area and intermediate routes. He plays bigger than his size would indicate, which is a plus in some areas, but it’s not here as he runs and has the footwork speed of a bigger-bodied wide receiver.

Player Comp: Mack Hollins

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (Georgia)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 40 targets)
- Yards per route run: 45th
- PFF receiving grade: 98th
- YAC per reception: 201st

Scouting Report:

Rosemy-Jacksaint should settle in as a dependable WR4/5 in the NFL. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him convert to a big slot or a 50/50 slot/outside player at the next level and carve out a long career. He has solid feet with the ability to gear down and turn on a dime, but his explosive ability and raw speed are questionable.
Rosemy-Jacksaint isn’t an above-the-rim player, but he’s an intermediate possession receiver that coaches and quarterbacks will love. He excels at slants/crossers and comebacks.
Rosemy-Jacksaint has vice-grip hands. He extends and plucks the ball out of the air away from his body. He had only two drops across 105 collegiate targets and a 63.6% contested catch rate in his final season.
He’s not a YAC threat. Rosemy-Jacksaint runs upright and is easy to bring down in the open field with only four missed tackles and 4.1 YAC per reception in four years of college.
Coaches will love him in the run game. He can seal the edge and consistently stands up defenders and anchors well. Over the last two seasons, among 249 and 265 qualifying wide receivers, he was 11th and 14th in PFF run blocking grade (minimum 200 run blocking snaps).

Player Comp: Zach Pascal