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Rome Odunze, Caleb Williams Pairing Celebrated by Bears Fans During NFL Draft 2024

Scott Polacek

Caleb Williams just got himself another weapon.

The Chicago Bears were back on the clock with the No. 9 overall pick of Thursday's NFL draft shortly after taking Williams at No. 1, and they used their second choice on Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

That means Chicago will have Williams throwing to the likes of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett and Odunze in his rookie season.

Social media loved the choice for the NFC North team:

Talk about firepower.

Chicago completely overhauled its offense this offseason by trading Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, acquiring Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers and adding D'Andre Swift and Everett prior to the draft.

And then they added the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner with the first pick and one of the best wide receivers in all of college football with the ninth.

Odunze tallied 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns while helping lead the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game during the 2023 campaign.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department highlighted his route-running ability, physicality, tendency to make plays after the catch and his "fluidity and change of direction" in its scouting report.

"Odunze's contested catch ability is his calling card," Derrik Klassen wrote. "At 6'3" and 215 pounds, he has both the length and strength to outmuscle defensive backs for the ball with great consistency.

"It's not just the physical traits, though. Odunze tracks the ball beautifully and understands how to attack the ball at its highest point. He also has the flexibility and quick reaction skills to adjust to any throw, giving him a very quarterback-friendly catch radius."

Pairing Williams with a receiver like that just gives the Bears even more momentum after they went 5-3 in their final eight games of the 2023 campaign.

They have a realistic chance to make the jump into playoff contention during the upcoming season, especially if their two new first-rounders live up to their potential in their rookie years.

   

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