The Chicago Bears drafted Rome Odunze to become their eventual #1 wide receiver. That is what you expect from a top 10 pick. While he hasn’t been what you can classify as bad, the former 9th overall selection has been a disappointment. Last season, it was being derailed by a foot injury. This season? Let’s just say he has never really gotten over the consistency issues that plagued him as a rookie. If ever there was a day that Chicago needed their playmakers to make plays, it was against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Instead, all Odunze did was remind everybody how underwhelming he remains. This is not a front-line wide receiver. Those guys don’t make the types of brutal mistakes that Odunze did on Sunday. Not only did he drop yet another touchdown pass, his third since January’s playoff loss to the Rams, but he also delivered a brutal fumble. On top of everything else, he caught 3 passes for 40 yards. That was despite being targeted 9 times. This was by far the biggest issue with him over the past two years. Even when you try funneling the ball to him, he doesn’t catch it nearly often enough.
Rome Odunze is what he is at this point.
They say you always know who a player will be in the NFL by their third season. If they haven’t evolved into a star by then, you’re not getting one. This is who the Bears have. Odunze is a big receiver who doesn’t play that way, has poor hands, and struggles with constant concentration issues. Stop and ask this question. Knowing head coach Ben Johnson, do you think he would consider extending a player like that? The answer is no. He is not the type of person who rewards mediocrity.
It’s unfortunate. Up until now, Bears general manager Ryan Poles has had a pretty strong track record with his 1st round picks. Darnell Wright is one of the best right tackles in football. Caleb Williams was stellar last season. Colston Loveland was unblockable down the stretch. Dillon Thieneman leads the team in tackles as a rookie safety. So many positives. Rome Odunze looks like he’s the worst of those picks, which is shocking to many after the awesome career he had for Washington in college.
🔥 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.
It further proves that drafting is not an exact science.
Lots of people believed Odunze was destined for success. The 2024 wide receiver class was called one of the best in a decade. Instead, it’s proving to be the most overhyped. Marvin Harrison Jr. was just traded by Arizona. Brian Thomas Jr. was relegated to backup snaps in Jacksonville. Malik Nabers has recurring health problems. No stars to be found. Odunze is not a bad player. He has performed at a high enough level where you can see him as a solid #2 option in some offenses. The problem is that wasn’t what the Bears drafted him to be.
They wanted a playmaker. Odunze is not that. You don’t blunder the number of opportunities he’s had and call yourself that. In truth, he’s another Mike Williams. The former 1st round pick joined the Chargers with tons of promise. While he did have a couple of 1,000-yard seasons, he was also plagued by drops and consistency issues. Ultimately, while he stayed with L.A. for 7 years, he never lived up to his potential. Odunze is on that same trajectory.
