Windy City Gridiron
The first and last catch of Rome Odunze’s rookie season will surely make the Chicago Bears 2024 highlight reel. In week one against the Tennessee Titans, there was a tipped pass that he skied high to come down with, but then, as he landed and gathered himself, he spun upfield, was hit, and fumbled. Chicago’s Teven Jenkins recovered, but it was an exciting play in what we hope is the start of a fantastic career.
It was his only reception on the day, but the Bears went on to beat the Titans 24 to 17.
His last catch of the 2024 season came in the week 18 finale against the Green Bay Packers, and it was another that showcased his athleticism. It was a first and ten from the Bears’ 35-yard line, and there were just 40 seconds left in the game. Caleb Williams dropped back and rifled a pass to the right sideline where only Odunze could make a play. Rome stretched out of bounds while keeping his toes in play and hauled in a 15-yard catch at the 50-yard line.
Odunze only had two receptions for 18 yards on the day, but the Bears went on to win on a last-second Cairo Santos field goal.
He had a very good rookie season, but with five first-year pros having more receptions and four having more receiving yards, many fans were left disappointed in Odunze’s 2024.
Here’s how the top nine drafted wide receivers fared last season ranked by receptions.
He and the Bears left some plays on the field for sure. There were some missed blocks on the perimeter by Odunze, and a handful of times he and quarterback Caleb Williams weren’t on the same page, but the notion his rookie year is a disappointment is ludicrous.
Odunze’s 54 catches and 734 receiving yards are each the fourth most by a rookie in team history. He had three receiving touchdowns and added three rushes for 15 yards and another TD.
Malik Nabers, who went three picks before Odunze, had the second-most catches as a rookie in league history, and as the New York Giants' number one receiver, he had 30 more targets than their number two.
Brian Thomas Jr. had a fantastic rookie season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and as their number one threat, he was targeted 69 more times than their number two threast, tight end Evan Engram.
Ladd McConkey surpassed most expectations his first year, emerging as the Los Angeles Chargers' number one reviver with 21 more targets than their WR2.
Sensing a theme?
The Arizona Cardinals threw to tight end Tre McBride 147 times, but their number one receiver was Marvin Harrison Jr., who was targeted 45 times more than their next wideout.
Speedy Xavier Worthy was the Kansas City Chiefs' most targeted receiver (he also had 20 rushing attempts) behind tight end Travis Kelce’s 133 targets.
Odunze was the Bears’ third most targeted receiver behind DJ Moore’s 140 and Keenan Allen’s 121 in 2024, so...
