Don’t let anybody fool you. While hard work and good scouting lead to success in the draft, it also comes down to a significant degree of luck. The right player has to be available at the right spot without another team claiming him before you do. This is a lesson the Chicago Bears know too well. Over the years, there have been many instances of other teams either taking a great player one spot before them or trading up in front of them to get that player. Aaron Donald, Ryan Clady, and Quenton Nelson are some of the more recent examples. Rome Odunze apparently almost became another.
GM Ryan Poles knew he wanted the Washington wide receiver not long after the scouting combine. His mix of size, speed, hands, route-running, and impeccable character made him an ideal choice to pair with new quarterback Caleb Williams. All he had to do was sweat out the wait between #1 and #9. Once Odunze got past the New York Giants at #6, he felt reasonably confident the Bears could land Odunze. As it turns out, the other team from New York almost ruined everything, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
The sense around the league is the Jets were pretty set on Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu at No. 10 overall … unless Washington receiver Rome Odunze was available. The people I’ve talked to believe the Jets would have jumped at Odunze, though they correctly figured Chicago was taking him there.
The Jets’ decision not to be aggressive landed Rome Odunze in Chicago.
It is pretty clear New York would’ve taken him at #10 if the Bears had passed. They also likely sent out feelers to gauge what it would take to jump in front of Chicago. Either the cost was too high, or none of the teams in front of the Bears wanted to move. The latter might make more sense. Atlanta (#8) wanted to make sure they got their quarterback target in Michael Penix. Tennessee (#7) wouldn’t have wanted to move because they likely feared New York would take an offensive lineman, which they wanted. The Giants wouldn’t move either because they needed another weapon for Daniel Jones.
Whatever the case, the Jets’ unwillingness or inability to jump in front of the Bears enabled Rome Odunze to achieve his goal of linking up with Williams. It marked the first time in NFL history that the same team drafted a quarterback and wide receiver in the top 10. The Jets opted for an offensive tackle. Both could end up working out, but draft experts seem to think Odunze will have the brighter career. If so, it will be the first time in ages that the Bears got the better end of that deal.
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oh, one last thing: you would do well to convince yourself that “allowing” and “causing” are mostly two different things in both scientific research and common-day decision-making, including in football matters.
So the Bears dodged the Jets for RO even though the Jets picked after bears? Got it.
For the last time, thanks TJ for the masterplan to have the Bears/Caleb pound the table for Odunze rather than trading down or even taking the next best choice, LT Fashanu, a friend of Caleb’s. high school days. Both will be excellent players.