INDIANAPOLIS – The top receivers in the NFL Draft took center stage here at the NFL Combine here on Friday.
Well, all but one at least.
While Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. didn't show up for his media availability on Friday for an unspecified reason, the other top playmakers at the position did, and they had plenty to say.
Harrison, regarded as the best of the bunch, probably won't be around when the Titans pick seventh overall. At least that's what the draft analysts think.
Some aren't sure players like LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze will make it out of the top six, but here on Friday, they both made a case on why they think they're the cream of the crop at the position.
"I am able to play outside, inside, go against eight corners a game, and still put up big numbers, at the end of the day," Nabers said. "A different offense can move me around, and (I) still got that dawg mentality.
"I would say I'm a dawg. When that ball is in the air, it's mine. When I get the ball in my hands, I'm able to do tremendous things with it."
Nabers (6-0, 200) proved all of that in college, as he hauled in 189 receptions for 3,003 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons. Nabers became LSU's all-time receiving leader in 2023 after reeling in 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 scores. He was named a unanimous All-American and first-team All-SEC selection.
Nabers said he met with the Titans at the combine.
"It went pretty good," Nabers said of the visit. "I never really had any bad interviews. I would say I wowed all the coaches with my football intelligence."
Odunze (6-3, 215) made a pretty good case for himself at Washington, where he racked up 95 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Huskies in 2023, a year after hauling in 75 catches for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns.
Odunze also made a case here on why he thinks he's the best receiver in this draft.
"I think a successful career would be ending in the Hall of Fame," Odunze said. "I want to go at least 10 years. That would hopefully be what it would take. But I want to be one of the best to ever play the game and end up in the Hall of Fame."
During his media availability on Friday, he also discussed the time he spent with Titans officials in Indianapolis.
"The Titans, that was cool," Odunze said. "That was one of my first meetings, so going into it a little nervous, figuring out how those meetings are going to go. Good people as well, and they were also very diligent, asking me all of the good questions, making sure I knew what I was talking about. I feel like I probably impressed them hopefully. It was a good meeting.
"I would definitely fit in there. I think they have a good system going on, they have some good quarterbacks in the room, and it's something I could help expand."
NFL Network Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks Harrison as the No.2 prospect in this year's draft, ahead of Odunze (3rd) and Nabers (7th).
Florida State's Keon Coleman, LSU's Brian Thomas Jr., Georgia's Ladd McConkey, Western Kentucky's Malachi Corley, Oregon's Troy Franklin and Texas receivers Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy are also considered some of this year's top prospects at the position.
Speaking at the NFL Combine earlier this week, Titans officials didn't hide the fact they're looking hard at the receivers in this year's class.
"The receiver room is where we're going to continue to look to add some playmakers," Titans General Manager Ran Carthon said. "We are looking to add playmakers on both sides of the ball. We need to have people that can put the ball in the paint."
Titans coach Brian Callahan said this year's draft class is a deep one, with a variety of players.
The Titans are interested.
"At the end of the day, the NFL is about scoring points, and having people that can score points is important," Callahan said. "I'll always lean, when all things are equal, (on) guys that can score touchdowns.
"There's a good mix of talent (in this year's class) that fits, and when you're building a good receiver room, you're trying to collect a little bit of all of those things. It's a fun class to evaluate, and hopefully we can find a couple of guys that fit us."
