2024 Bears Draft Target: Rome Odunze |
To go offensive or defensive is the question that Ryan Poles and the Bears must address on draft night. While momentum is building that the Bears will ultimately trade their No. 9 pick for more picks down the road, you still have the possibility of Chicago keeping that pick to further improve this season's team.
Who that player would be is an entirely different question, as there is no right or wrong answer at this point. Do the Bears have a need on defense? Yes, so you could see Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, and others taken at that spot to address the pass rush. Would Chicago like to add more talent up front? Sure, so look for OT Joe Alt as an option should he fall that far. However, with this team committing to Caleb Williams and giving him every offensive weapon he could possibly dream of, why not keep the party going here? The Bears could take Rome Odunze to give Williams another massive offensive weapon. Regarded as the second- or third-best WR in this year's class, Odunze has everything the Bears are looking for, including the makings of becoming an outstanding player in the NFL. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Odunze has the size the Bears lacked on the outside, although adding Keenan Allen will help address that. Allen is only on a one-year contract, however, so losing him will create another opening on the outside, which Odunze can fill. Not only does he have size, but his speed is what sets him apart. He is one of the fastest WRs in this year's class, creating what could be a matchup nightmare for many teams. What started with minimal production at Washington, where Odunze had fewer than 500 yards in two seasons, turned into one of the most decorated careers by a Husky WR. Kalen DeBoer, as head coach, played a role in that, but so did Michael Penix Jr, who finally stayed healthy after transferring from Indiana to Washington. In two seasons with Penix, Odunze caught 167 passes for 2785 yards and 20 touchdowns. That included this past season when he was second in the nation in receptions behind Malik Nabers with 92 while also leading the nation in receiving yards at 1640. Odunze also picked up 13 TDS and was a massive part of the Huskie offense's overall success. Big-body receivers are a massive part of today's game, but when you're getting Larry Fitzgerald comparisons, it is certainly worth noting. Odunze has the size to be an enormous threat on the outside while also possessing elite ball-tracking skills in coverage. His frame and size bode well to be a true No. 1 or No.2 option in the NFL, while his elite separation makes him a playmaking threat every time he touches the ball. He uses his body to shield off defenders while doing a fantastic job locating the ball early enough to go up and get it. His hands are equally as good as he seldom dropped passes and will be a matchup problem for anyone trying to guard him one-on-one. Odunze may sound like the complete package and the perfect fit at No. 9 for Chicago, but like every prospect, his game has some a few issues. While he is excellent at making double moves, he tends to rush through the second move, which allows the defender to stay with him during coverage. Odunze is a good route runner, but sometimes his lack of detail at the end of routes led to poorly thrown passes as the WR and QB seemed on a different page. Throw in his inability to run block consistently, and you have a great player with some flaws, but flaws that can be ironed out with time. Odunze has been the topic of conversation for a while now, as scouts have him going anywhere from pick No. 5-10 on the big board. That falls in line with the Bears, and if this is any consolation, the Bears need to consider him as their pick. “Team captain. Good leader. Tough. Dependable. (Michael) Penix would just fling it up in the air sometimes, and (Odunze) just went and got it. He’s my favorite player on the West Coast, ” said an NFC regional scout. Odunze also has experience playing against Williams and has said he would love to link up with him at the NFL level.
