When a team takes a wide receiver with a top-10 pick, it’s not often they’ll be entering a situation where they’re the No. 3 guy in the room. Such is the case for Rome Odunze, which represents a good problem for both he and the Bears.
Chicago has overhauled the offense over the last year, beginning with the addition of DJ Moore prior to the 2023 season. They added Keenan Allen to the wideout room this offseason, while tabbing D’Andre Swift as the primary back for 2024. That was before they went out and added Caleb Williams and Odunze with the Nos. 1 and 9 picks in the draft.
On paper, Ryan Poles has done an impressive job. The wideout room now features an embarrassment of riches between Allen, Moore 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, since the top corners likely will be focused on Allen and Moore.
Now a few weeks into his first training camp, Odunze told “Bernstein & Holmes” that he’s just taking it all in and figuring out where he can best compliment 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 four years 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 receiving touchdowns across 15 games.