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(We’re counting down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. Today is No. 17 our list, Nate Odomes)
Nate Odomes, CB (drafted in second round, 29th overall in 1987)
Headed into his second season as Buffalo Bills general manager in 1987, Bill Polian knew he needed to draft more talented defenders. The Bills were coming off a 4-12 season the year before; a campgain that saw them surrender 348 points to the opposition.
One of the positions the franchise needed the most help at was cornerback. Charles Romes’ playing days in Buffalo were coming to an end and with just Derrick Burroughs and Rodney Bellinger in tow; game-changing impact was hardly sitting on the roster.
In the first round of the ’87 draft Polian chose linebacker Shane Conlan eighth overall. When the Bills went on the clock with the first pick of the second round, Polian decided it was the right time to draft his corner. With corners from bigger schools still on the board like Brian Davis from Nebraska and Tim McDonald from USC, Polian tabbed Wisconsin’s Nate Odomes.
It was those kinds of personnel decisions made by Polian that would soon transform the Bills from league doormat to perennial Super Bowl contender.
It didn’t take Odomes long to crack the starting lineup. He’d go on to start 12 games as a rookie and hold down the job for the duration of his Bills career, which would span seven seasons. He’d have just two fumble recoveries his rookie season and one interception in his second, but by year three he was completely comfortable in his job as a shutdown corner and it began to show up on the stat sheet.
1989 saw Odomes put his stamp on being of the best secondary defenders in the league. He finished the season with five interceptions despite most opposing quarterbacks starting to avoid throwing the football on his side of the field. He only had one interception in 1990 but played a critical role in many games as the Bills finished the season 13-3 and made the first of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.
Odomes picked off five passes in both 1991 and ’92 and by that time was getting the league-wide recognition he clearly deserved. Odomes would make the Pro Bowl in 1992 and again the next season, when he finished tied for the NFL lead with 9 interceptions.
His single-biggest moment as a Bill came in the playoff win over Houston simply known now as “The Comeback.” Odomes would intercept Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon in overtime, setting up Steve Christie’s game-winning field goal.
Unfortunately for both the Bills and Odomes’ professional career, his playing days were quickly coming to an end. Odomes became the latest in a long line of Bills players from the Super Bowl era to bolt for the bigger bucks in free agency. Odomes signed a four-year, $8.4-million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, a huge deal at that time, following the ’93 season.
It would turn out to be the worst investment Seattle ever made. Odomes never played a down with the Seahawks. During a charity basketball game on June 28, 1994 Odomes badly injured his knee, forcing him to miss the entire season. He reinjured the knee in training camp the following year and was eventually released.
He tried to revive his career one last time, joining Atlanta, but played in just seven games before announcing he was going to retire.
The sad injuries to end his career were the polar opposite of the durability he had in Buffalo. Odomes played in 108 games for the Bills, never missing a game and only missing one start because of a shoulder injury. He finished his Buffalo career with 26 interceptions and nine forced fumbles.
Rightfully, Odomes earned a spot last year on the Bills 50th anniversary team at corner alongside Butch Byrd. Considering he lasted into the second round and the players he’d go on to outperform at his position, Odomes deserves his spot among the team’s best draft picks of all time.
Previously: #20 Joe Cribbs, #19 Jeff Nixon, #18 Bob Chandler
Nate Odomes, CB (drafted in second round, 29th overall in 1987)
Headed into his second season as Buffalo Bills general manager in 1987, Bill Polian knew he needed to draft more talented defenders. The Bills were coming off a 4-12 season the year before; a campgain that saw them surrender 348 points to the opposition.
One of the positions the franchise needed the most help at was cornerback. Charles Romes’ playing days in Buffalo were coming to an end and with just Derrick Burroughs and Rodney Bellinger in tow; game-changing impact was hardly sitting on the roster.
In the first round of the ’87 draft Polian chose linebacker Shane Conlan eighth overall. When the Bills went on the clock with the first pick of the second round, Polian decided it was the right time to draft his corner. With corners from bigger schools still on the board like Brian Davis from Nebraska and Tim McDonald from USC, Polian tabbed Wisconsin’s Nate Odomes.
It was those kinds of personnel decisions made by Polian that would soon transform the Bills from league doormat to perennial Super Bowl contender.
It didn’t take Odomes long to crack the starting lineup. He’d go on to start 12 games as a rookie and hold down the job for the duration of his Bills career, which would span seven seasons. He’d have just two fumble recoveries his rookie season and one interception in his second, but by year three he was completely comfortable in his job as a shutdown corner and it began to show up on the stat sheet.
1989 saw Odomes put his stamp on being of the best secondary defenders in the league. He finished the season with five interceptions despite most opposing quarterbacks starting to avoid throwing the football on his side of the field. He only had one interception in 1990 but played a critical role in many games as the Bills finished the season 13-3 and made the first of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.
Odomes picked off five passes in both 1991 and ’92 and by that time was getting the league-wide recognition he clearly deserved. Odomes would make the Pro Bowl in 1992 and again the next season, when he finished tied for the NFL lead with 9 interceptions.
His single-biggest moment as a Bill came in the playoff win over Houston simply known now as “The Comeback.” Odomes would intercept Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon in overtime, setting up Steve Christie’s game-winning field goal.
Unfortunately for both the Bills and Odomes’ professional career, his playing days were quickly coming to an end. Odomes became the latest in a long line of Bills players from the Super Bowl era to bolt for the bigger bucks in free agency. Odomes signed a four-year, $8.4-million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, a huge deal at that time, following the ’93 season.
It would turn out to be the worst investment Seattle ever made. Odomes never played a down with the Seahawks. During a charity basketball game on June 28, 1994 Odomes badly injured his knee, forcing him to miss the entire season. He reinjured the knee in training camp the following year and was eventually released.
He tried to revive his career one last time, joining Atlanta, but played in just seven games before announcing he was going to retire.
The sad injuries to end his career were the polar opposite of the durability he had in Buffalo. Odomes played in 108 games for the Bills, never missing a game and only missing one start because of a shoulder injury. He finished his Buffalo career with 26 interceptions and nine forced fumbles.
Rightfully, Odomes earned a spot last year on the Bills 50th anniversary team at corner alongside Butch Byrd. Considering he lasted into the second round and the players he’d go on to outperform at his position, Odomes deserves his spot among the team’s best draft picks of all time.
Previously: #20 Joe Cribbs, #19 Jeff Nixon, #18 Bob Chandler
