The Chicago Bears drafted wide receiver Rome Odunze from the Washington Huskies ninth overall (first-round selection) in the 2024 NFL Draft. Odunze was the third receiver in the Bears offense during his rookie season behind D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen.
In 2025, Odunze is preparing to be the second wide receiver in the offense behind Moore. Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III from the Missouri Tigers is projected to be the other starting wide receiver in Chicago’s offense. Quarterback Caleb Williams is looking to show major progress in season two under new head coach Ben Johnson. It will be interesting to see what kind of role Odunze will have in Chicago’s offense during the 2025 NFL season.
Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Rome Odunze Looking To Get Better Entering Season 2
The 23-year-old wide receiver was interviewed by Jayna Bardahl of The Athletic about what is looking forward to about the 2025 NFL season and said,
“I just turned 23. I don’t have many things to focus on other than getting better.”
During the 2024 season with Chicago, he caught 54 passes for 734 yards receiving and three touchdowns, along with averaging 13.6 yards per reception. Odunze also was targeted 101 times. He also rushed for 15 yards on three carries and averaged 5.0 yards per carry last season and has zero rushing touchdowns.
The Bears wide receiver also mentioned that he needed to work on his strength during the offseason, especially when it comes to the 50-50 balls. Odunze also said,
“There’s a lot of nitpicking and grabbing in this league that isn’t always shown. I feel like I needed to build upper-body mass to be able to combat some of those things.”
Odunze also understands that the NFL is different compared to college football and said,
“It’s a different game than college football. There are different windows, different ways to get open, and there’s a different pace that you have to get adapted to. Having a full season under my belt, I feel like I’m aware of those things. I can now play the game freely in a way that I know where I need to be when I need to be there.”
He is looking to have a big year for Chicago and get them back to the playoffs after finishing with a 5-12 record during the 2024 NFL season. The Bears offense has a lot of potential to do special things during the 2025 NFL season.
They also have tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift in the backfield as well. Odunze has a chance to be the perfect number two wide receiver option for Chicago behind Moore to make this offense elite also.
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