In a move to reclaim relevance in the NFL, the Chicago Bears strategically bolstered their offense during the 2024 NFL draft. With the first overall pick, they selected the 2022 Heisman Trophy Award winner and former USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams, a highly sought-after prospect. Continuing their offensive focus, the Bears made another significant move in the first round, selecting former Washington football star and wide receiver Rome Odunze.
The Bears, known for their offensive struggles, made a bold move by selecting Odunze to strengthen their offensive line-up. This decision was met with jubilation from long-suffering Chicago Bears fans, who were thrilled to see their team secure two of the most promising offensive players in the 2024 NFL draft. NFL fans also shared excitement and anticipation with a new-found buzz surrounding the team’s future.
NFL Fans React to Chicago Bears Selecting Washington Football WR Rome Odunze
Rome Odunze, a superstar who played for the Washington football program from 2020 to 2023, went with the ninth pick of the 2024 NFL draft to the Chicago Bears. Odunze played sparingly during his first season before snagging 41 receptions for 415 yards and four scores in 2021. The six-foot-three, 200-pound wideout took a massive step forward in 2022, recording 75 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven scores. Alongside fellow first-round pick and quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Odunze posted record numbers last season, collecting a Pac-12-best 92 receptions and 1,145 yards. He caught 13 touchdown passes.
Regarded as a top-20 prospect and one of the best pass catchers in this year’s draft, the Chicago Bears burned the ninth overall pick on Odunze. Alongside the selection of USC’s great quarterback, Caleb Williams, the expectation for Chicago continues to rise. NFL fans flooded social media, mainly Twitter, with reactions to the Bears quickly forming one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Rome Odunze to Chicago. Homerun pick. Just such a tremendous player to help your rookie QB succeed. pic.twitter.com/WEOgNdfhFP
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) April 26, 2024
ROME ODUNZE, CHICAGO BEAR. pic.twitter.com/RqNwqAUpHn
— Barstool Chicago (@barstoolchicago) April 26, 2024
Caleb Williams is throwing to DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and Cole
Kmet. It’s like I’m living in a fever dream. This is incredible. What a night— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 26, 2024
The city of Chicago after drafting Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in the last few weeks
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 26, 2024
CALEB WILLIAMS
ROME ODUNZEWHAT A DAMN DRAFT pic.twitter.com/rXm5AlUzfJ
— Morale Supply Co.™ (@moralesupplyco) April 26, 2024
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze this season: pic.twitter.com/quqk1RGMX8
— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) April 26, 2024
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are both on the #Bears pic.twitter.com/WoQ9qZyaTh
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 26, 2024
Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, Cole Kmet
We finally have an offense 😭 pic.twitter.com/3qvkoJCyt8
— Michael Rizzo (@Mriz3) April 26, 2024
Chicago Bears: WR Depth Chart
A year after a poor performance for quarterback Justin Fields, the Chicago Bears gutted the offense. Fields went to the Pittsburgh Steelers via trade, while they added wideout Keenan Allen through a team-to-team transaction. Allen, a six-time Pro-Bowler, posted a monstrous 108 receptions, 1,243 yards, and seven touchdowns last season. Meanwhile, despite little production from the quarterback room last year, top wideout DJ Moore collected a career-best 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns.
Rome Odunze, the ninth overall pick on Thursday, will likely slot behind Allen and Moore on the depth chart while playing most of the snaps in three wideout sets. The Bears still house 2022 third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. and 2023 fourth-round pick Tyler Scott. Jones Jr. tallied 11 receptions through his first two NFL seasons, while Scott posted 17 catches in a reserve role as a rookie.
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