If it wasn’t clear that the pressure was on Rome Odunze before, it certainly is now. Expectations were high for the former 9th overall pick last season. Things started great. He was scoring lots of touchdowns in his first few games, looking like a true #1 target. Then a foot injury derailed everything. He lost a good deal of his burst and struggled getting open as often. If that weren’t bad enough, Odunze also again struggled making catches. He had multiple drops and was frequently outmuscled for the ball in 50/50 situations.
What made it so frustrating for fans and experts is that this wasn’t an issue for him in college. Making tough catches was considered one of Odunze’s defining traits. Now, through two seasons, he has caught just 51.3% of the passes thrown his way. Head coach Ben Johnson already started reducing his target share last season in favor of tight end Colston Loveland. It appears Luther Burden is about to get a bump as well. Odunze must put together a good season in 2026, or his time in Chicago becomes uncertain.
Never one to back down from a challenge, the receiver has been studying hard to correct the problem this offseason. How? By looking into how current and former greats operated in those same situations. Odunze explained on the 4th & 1 Show with Cam Newton.
“I looked up to guys like Davante Adams, Julio Jones, I was even watching some Puka (Nacua) film from last year, especially at the catch point,” Odunze explained. “I want to be better at the catch point this year when it comes to contested catches, catching in stride, and all of those different things. Making the quarterback look good when I need to… When it might be a go-make-a-play play, I want to make that play. I watch film on all of those guys and continue to study that and I’ll display that this season, for sure.”
Rome Odunze must learn to weaponize his size.
That is something Julio Jones, Davante Adams, and Puka Nacua all share. Aside from being great athletes and route-runners, they understood that the best way to make tough catches was to approach them like a basketball player. Attack the ball in the air, using your big frame to box out the defender. It isn’t just about strong hands. It is about mentality. You must think like an alpha. Once the ball is in the air, it’s your ball, and nobody else’s. Odunze hasn’t always been treating it that way, despite his 6’3″, 215 lbs frame.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
One stat that is pretty telling for great wide receivers is called Catch Success Rate. This is the number of receptions made divided by the number of targets. The higher the percentage, the better a receiver is at making plays. Nowadays, you should be at least above 60% to be called a top player in the league. The absolute best ones usually get above 67%. Rome Odunze has a long way to climb.
| Rank | Player | Team | Total Yards | Receptions | Targets | Catch % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks | 1,793 | 119 | 163 | 73.0% |
| 2 | Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams | 1,715 | 129 | 166 | 77.7% |
| 3 | George Pickens | Dallas Cowboys | 1,429 | 93 | 137 | 67.9% |
| 4 | Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | 1,412 | 125 | 185 | 67.6% |
| 5 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit Lions | 1,401 | 117 | 172 | 68.0% |
| 6 | Zay Flowers | Baltimore Ravens | 1,211 | 86 | 118 | 72.9% |
| 7 | Chris Olave | New Orleans Saints | 1,163 | 100 | 156 | 64.1% |
| 8 | Nico Collins | Houston Texans | 1,117 | 71 | 120 | 59.2% |
| 9 | Jameson Williams | Detroit Lions | 1,117 | 65 | 102 | 63.7% |
| 10 | CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | 1,077 | 93 | 145 | 64.1% |
This is why Burden should have him nervous.
Despite being a rookie, the former 2nd round pick was very reliable. On 60 targets last season, he caught 47 passes, which works out to a 78.3 catch percentage. People talked about his explosiveness all day. They didn’t bother mentioning his consistency bringing the ball in. That means he offers everything necessary for a #1 wide receiver. Odunze doesn’t have his speed or his hands. That doesn’t mean he lacks talent, but the Bears drafted him with the expectation that he would become a star.
Time is running out. The longer Rome Odunze takes to put it all together, the more time it gives others on the offense to claim that top spot instead. He sounds motivated, which is good. Hard work never scared the young receiver. He’s also humble enough to recognize that what he’s been doing isn’t enough. Sometimes you must accept your faults and find a way to correct them. Studying some of the best, past or present, is a common solution to these problems.
