Things are going pretty well for the Chicago Bears lately. They dominated two of their first three games thanks in large part to an offense that seems to be gaining confidence and potency with each week. Seeing Case Keenum put up 27 points on a pretty good Philadelphia Eagles defense was telling. Several players are putting together career-best performances so far. Right tackle Darnell Wright and right guard Jonah Jackson are two examples. Running back D’Andre Swift is another. Import wide receiver Kalif Raymond is off to a scorching start. Plenty of guys are feeling good. Rome Odunze is not one of them.
The Bears have a long and somewhat tortured history with 1st round wide receivers. It was felt that Odunze was a caliber of talent that could overcome that curse. So far, that hasn’t been the case. Aside from the foot injury that derailed much of his 2025 season, the receiver hasn’t gotten over a persistent issue with dropping passes. He added to the growing list on Monday night when he bobbled an easy touchdown into an incompletion, costing the Bears 4 points.
It ended up not mattering, but it could’ve been so costly in different circumstances. This is a continuation of what happened last season. Everybody still remembers that drop against the Rams in the playoffs. The problem isn’t going away.
Rome Odunze faces an increasingly uncertain future.
As of now, the Bears have secured many of their core offensive players. Wright received a massive contract extension before the season began. All signs point to quarterback Caleb Williams eventually getting his own deal next offseason if he plays at the same level as last year or better. The only name that hasn’t been mentioned in those conversations is Odunze. Based on what Sports Mockery insider Jeff Hughes just stated on Twitter (X), it sure sounds like the Bears aren’t feeling compelled to consider the idea.
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One thing we know about head coach Ben Johnson is that he loves efficiency. A stat for wide receivers he is certainly to pay attention to is something called Receiving Success Rate. This is a percentage calculated by the number of receptions made relative to the targets. Across his 32 career games, Rome Odunze has an RCR of 46.1%. For context, Marvin Harrison Jr., who is being called a bust for the Arizona Cardinals, sits at 50.5%. The best wide receivers in the NFL like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase? They hover around 56%. That is a pretty bad look.
Odunze has 14 games left to change his narrative.
While he is far from a liability in the Bears’ offense, the facts are the facts. He hasn’t played well enough to this point to justify any talk of an extension. Next year will be the last of his rookie contract. Right now, the Bears have no incentive to pick up his 5th-year option. If he doesn’t put together some strong run over the next three months to change the narrative, the Bears will start reshuffling their priorities in the passing game. Lots more Colston Loveland and Luther Burden. Less Odunze.
There are already signs that Johnson is growing frustrated with him. The drop issues are a big deal with him. A coach never likes it when a player ruins a great play call with poor execution. Odunze has done that way too many times. Granted, the guy has had some brilliant moments. That 4th and 8 against Green Bay will live forever. Yet one play does not guarantee you $20-30 million per year.
