The Bears’ offense could find a new weapon in Rome Odunze this season. After a quiet rookie year, the ex-Washington star is poised for a breakout with better QB play and a new scheme.
The Chicago Bears are coming off a disappointing season and have brought in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to turn things around and elevate the franchise. With optimism running high and expectations growing, much of the focus this year is on second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
However, according to the Athletic, the real breakout candidate isn’t Williams.
Instead, they’re pointing to wide receiver Rome Odunze, the Bears’ second first-round pick in 2024, as the player to watch. Though his rookie season flew somewhat under the radar, the former Washington Husky is set to make a significant leap this season.
“It’s cliché to choose the second-year, top-10 pick,” wrote Kevin Fishbain, Senior Athletic Writer for the Athletic. “But Odunze’s rookie year seemed more disappointing than it really was. He finished fifth among rookies in receiving yards (734) and caught just over half of the passes thrown his way. He was a clear example of the inconsistency that plagued Chicago’s offense last year. When he fell short of expectations, it wasn’t due to drops or poor route-running. With a better scheme and improved quarterback play, he should really take off in his second season.”
Odunze’s rookie numbers weren’t just a product of limited targets.
In fact, 62.1% of the passes thrown his way by Caleb Williams were uncatchable—an issue that speaks more to quarterback growing pains than anything Odunze did wrong. If Williams can improve under Johnson, it could unlock Odunze’s true potential this season.
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Before turning pro, Odunze had a standout career with the Washington Huskies.
He caught 214 passes for 3,272 yards and 24 touchdowns, with his senior year marking his best — totaling over 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns — which helped him become a top-10 NFL Draft pick.
His first year in Chicago didn’t unfold as smoothly as hoped. Adjusting to a rookie quarterback and playing behind DJ Moore and longtime NFL veteran Keenan Allen on the depth chart, Odunze ranked third on the team in targets.
Odunze enters the year as the Bears’ clear No. 2 wideout — and this time, the stage is set for a much bigger role. With Johnson bringing a new-look offense to Chicago and Williams expected to take a step forward, Odunze has a real chance to emerge.
If things click, he could help turn an inconsistent Bears attack into something far more dangerous.
Category: General Sports
