USFL’s Chris Odom an Intriguing Option at Edge Rusher for Packers

The Green Bay Packers have an opening on the 53-man roster, and while many are focused on the wide receiver position, edge rusher remains a big need for the team as well.

Beyond Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, there are a lot of unknowns at this position. Jonathan Garvin and Tipa Galeai both saw their fair share of playing time a season ago, but the Packers need a more consistent impact from whoever ends up as the third and four edge rushers this season.

Randy Ramsey will be returning, and GM Brian Gutekunst expressed that the team is “excited” to have him back; however, Ramsey has only 75 career defensive snaps. Rookie Kingsley Enagbare could provide a boost on passing situations, but there’s a risk in relying heavily on a Day 3 pick right away.

Others competing for playing time and a roster spot on the Packers include UDFA Chauncey Manac, Kobe Jones, and La’Darius Hamilton.

As we saw just last summer when the Green Bay Packers signed both De’Vondre Campbell and Dennis Kelly after June 1st, there are still impact players available in free agency. Some of whom at the edge rusher position include Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul, among others.

However, an under-the-radar name out there is Chris Odom, who isn’t even in the NFL at this moment. Instead, Odom just finished competing with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL.

If Odom’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he spent time with Green Bay in 2017. Odom went undrafted that year out of Arkansas State, and in addition to the Packers, he has spent time with Atlanta and Washington as well as played in both the CFL and the American Alliance Football League.

According to PFF ($$), at the NFL level, Odom has been on the field for 106 defensive snaps — none since 2019 — along with 56 on special teams and appeared in 11 games. He has logged two sacks and four pressures during that span.

During the inaugural USFL season, the 6’4” – 256-pound Odom was downright dominant, recording 41 total tackles, six forced fumbles, and 12 sacks. He was also recently named the USFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

"“Chris Odom of the Houston Gamblers deserves a chance to be a rotational pass rusher in the NFL in ’22,” said Eric Eager of PFF. “He has 50 pressures so far this year, while no other player has more than 38. He wins 25% of pass-rushing reps, which is the highest mark in the league.”"

Without a doubt, NFL teams will be interested in signing Odom prior to training camp starting up, and the Green Bay Packers should be one of those teams, given the reasons mentioned above.

While, of course, there is no guarantee that he finds any success in the NFL, at a minimum, the 27-year-old Odom would provide some added competition at edge rusher where the Packers could certainly use it—and the upside is that I do think he would have a legitimate chance of making the final roster with three spots up for grabs.

Whatever the reason may be, Odom has unlocked a new level to his game. For a Packers team with an open roster spot and a need at edge rusher—not to mention that signing Odom isn’t going to break the bank either, Green Bay should be willing to take a flyer on the USFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.