Rome Odunze was the 9th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft for a reason. He was a star for Washington in college and displayed the type of well-rounded skill set that teams drool over. Size? Speed? Route-running? Hands? He checked all the boxes. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was prepared to mutiny when he felt Odunze might not reach the 9th spot. He did, and the pick was turned in without a second thought. Since then, the receiver has had some really good games and some outstanding moments. Still, it’s hard not to say what many are thinking.
His first two seasons have been disappointing.
Since debuting in 2024, he’s been targeted 191 times. Odunze has 98 catches for 1,395 yards and nine touchdowns. While not bad, it’s worth mentioning that Ja’Marr Chase had 185 targets in 2025 alone. Odunze didn’t establish himself as a #1 receiver in either season, and much of this stems from inconsistency and health issues. He missed five games last season with a foot injury. However, the most troubling concern is something that wasn’t supposed to be one. Doug Farrar of Anthlon Sports finally pointed it out.
Rome Odunze isn’t making enough tough catches.
“If Odunze’s explosiveness is limited as it was in 2025, that’s certainly a problem, but the more obvious attribute Odunze needs to recapture from his college days is his ability to beat defenders on contested catches. It was his alpha skill in college, and the Bears expected that the 6-foot-3, 212-pound Odunze would continue that in the NFL.
This has not happened. Per Pro Football Focus, Odunze had 29 contested targets in the 2025 season, and he caught just six of those. Not what one expects from a receiver who, per ESPN, caught 24 contested targets in 2023, his final season at Washington.”
Consistently catching the football is kind of important.
You can’t be the go-to receiver if you’re not making the play down after down for your quarterback. Odunze’s catch percentage over his first two years is 48.1%. In other words, he’s caught fewer than half the total passes thrown his direction. By contrast, Luther Burden, who was a rookie in 2025, sat at 78.3% by the end of last season. There is no way you can blame such a massive discrepancy on erratic quarterback play. This is a clear case of the wide receiver not making the play often enough.
What makes it so frustrating is that there is no explanation for it. Odunze pretty much went from being excellent at making contested catches to not being the moment he went from college to the NFL. It’s not like professional defensive backs are that much more challenging to make catches against. Bodies are bodies. Odunze usually has a notable size advantage against most of the corners and safeties he faces. He shouldn’t be struggling this much. The only explanation is mental.
Odunze clearly has concentration issues.
That explains both the struggles with contested catches and the drops. He seems so focused on what he’ll do after the catch that too often he doesn’t make sure to secure the ball first. What is frustrating is that Rome Odunze has had spectacular catches. He can do it. The 4th-and-8 prayer against Green Bay in the playoffs is a perfect example. Do-or-die situation. The throw required him to twist his body back to the ball while running towards the sideline. He makes the catch, extends the season, and eventually propels the team to victory.
If he can do stuff like that, why can’t he make contested catches more regularly? Solving this mystery is crucial for the Bears’ coaching staff. Odunze is heading into the most important season of his career. The third year of a rookie contract is when teams start deliberating if they want to extend somebody. If Odunze goes through another season of decent production, inconsistency, and health problems, the Bears likely won’t want to invest big money in his future. Whatever mental block he’s dealing with must be addressed soon, before it’s too late.
