Windy City Gridiron
I’m not sure how it started, but this offseason, Rome Odunze’s rookie year was receiving some unwarranted criticism, which inspired me to write this article (link). The gist of what I wrote was that Rome was Chicago’s third wideout, so comparing him to other teams’ number ones was silly. He put up 54 receptions and 734 receiving yards playing behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, which are very good numbers for a WR3.
Odunze was dominant in college, and he was one of the highest graded prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears took him ninth overall to grow and develop with number one overall pick Caleb Williams, and I’m expecting a jump in production with Ben Johnson calling the offense and Antwaan Randle El as his position coach.
“He’s an extremely well-rounded wide receiver with a combination of size, speed, ball skills, and route-running savvy that gives him a Pro Bowl ceiling at the NFL level,” our lead draft analyst Jacob Infante wrote about Odunze a few months before he was drafted by the Bears. “He’s arguably the most polished receiver in the 2024 draft, and when you consider he’s doing what he does at 6-foot-3, it becomes even more impressive.”
Sure, he had some rookie moments, but anyone disappointed in what he did in 2024 is trying way too hard to be negative.
He’s still the same high upside, well-rounded prospect he was coming out of Washington, and he’s had a fantastic offseason.
Back in May, head coach Ben Johnson said he was “extremely impressed” with Odunze. “To be a second-year guy, you would expect a little bit more inconsistency, and yet, the way he approaches the meeting room, the walk-throughs, the on-the-field, the drill work, it’s very much like a seasoned pro. Some of the best that I’ve been around.”
Odunze can win in different ways, which makes him an intriguing matchup that the Bears can move all around the offense. Ben Johnson’s Detroit offenses always had high production out of the slot, and Odunze worked out of the slot about a third of his reps as a rookie. He was also one of the better wideouts in contested catches last year, and this offseason, he bulked up to be ready to do it again.
A move up the depth chart, a more efficient offense with a better line, and a jump in play from Caleb Williams all have me predicting Odunze will be Chicago’s WR1 by the end of the season.
