(Audacy) When a team takes a wide receiver with a top-10 pick, it isn't often that rookie enters a situation in which he's No. 3 on the depth chart. Such is the case for Bears rookie receiver Rome Odunze.
Chicago has overhauled its offense over the last year-plus, beginning with the addition of star receiver DJ Moore prior to the 2023 season. The Bears then traded for six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen in March while signing D’Andre Swift as their primary back for 2024. That was before they went out and added quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall and Odunze at No. 9 overall in the NFL Draft.
On paper, general manager Ryan Poles has done an impressive job. The wideout room now features an embarrassment of riches between Moore, Allen and Odunze, and Swift also is a capable pass-catcher.
It’s an ideal situation for a rookie like Odunze to walk into. Not only does he get to learn from two of the top receivers in the game, but having that star power around him should only help him find his footing in the NFL as the top cornerbacks likely will be focused on Moore and Allen.
Now a few weeks into his first training camp, Odunze told the Bernstein & Holmes that he’s just taking it all in and figuring out where he can best complement the group.
“It’s a unique situation because those are two guys who are very established and tremendous players, for sure,” Odunze said Tuesday. “For me, it’s wanting the success of the wide receiver room as a whole, and I’m doing anything that I can to be a part of that. I think I bring my own skill set to the table, but I learn something from them every single day, and I think I provide a different aspect to the room as well. Just continue to be myself, but also being complementary to everybody in the room.”
Odunze joins the Bears following a standout career at the University of Washington. He blossomed into one of the best receivers in the game in 2023, reeling in 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns across 15 games.