Older Chicago Bears fans understand the organization has a rough history with picking wide receivers in the 1st round. They did okay with Willie Gault in 1983. However, since then it’s been mostly misfires for the past 30 years. Wendell Davis in 1988. David Terrell in 2001. Kevin White in 2015. So, one could understand why some were skeptical of the Bears targeting Rome Odunze with the 9th overall pick last April. While no one could deny his college success in Washington, he was the third wide receiver off the board and the Bears have a bad history of reaching at positions already plucked clean in years past.
GM Ryan Poles didn’t care. He felt in his heart that Odunze was a special talent and a special person. When the receiver fell past Tennessee and Atlanta to reach #9, he breathed a sigh of relief. Since then, the rookie has made a positive impression on every single person in the locker room, on and off the field. Head coach Matt Eberflus said he had one of the best summers of any player on the team.
However, perhaps the greatest nod of approval came during the final episode of Hard Knocks when All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson asked the rookie personally to run option routes against him after practice.
Rome Odunze clearly isn’t your normal rookie.
For somebody like Johnson to single him out as the ideal choice to learn how to better defend option routes tells you a lot. Remember, he had D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen as other choices. Instead, he chose Odunze. Now he may have done this as a way to also help the rookie learn what he can expect to see from top corners in the NFL. Still, it also spoke to how much respect Johnson already has for Odunze’s ability. Players his age aren’t usually capable route runners yet.
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That should tell you how different Rome Odunze is. This guy is 6’3, runs a sub-4.5 in the 40, and is so dedicated to his craft that he already runs sharp enough routes to give top cornerbacks pause. He may not be the primary receiver right now. Moore and Allen are too established for that. Even so, it feels like only a matter of time before Odunze becomes a target Caleb Williams can’t possibly ignore. For once, it appears the Bears finally got it right.
@Dr. Steven Sallie —
Thank you, Doctor. I’m just getting started.
@TGena I bow to the master = -40 = 666 Black Sabbath. Teach me your ways My Lord. I shall be at your feet after returning from too crowded Stonehenge. (Erik really should pay you a commission.)
Rome Odunze taught me how to ride a bike. He promised next Summer to teach me how to float on my back. I just get nervous, but he promised he wouldn’t let me go.
JackH,
Spank that genie on her ass one more time, and ask her if we can get rid of TinaGena for once and for all.
I can’t remember who I was talking with at draft time regarding Michigan’s WRs. It’s hard to gauge them because they threw so little. I’m going to keep an eye on pick #253, Cornelius Johnson, and Harbaugh added him the his Chargers. Of the 3 WRs, Nabers could vertical quicker than the other two, and was a more difficulty guy to tackle. MHJ had the better use of diamond technique catching. We’ve discussed not paying vets, like Keenan, for past performance, but I think MHJ’s contracts are always going to be a little higher based off of his dad’s stats… Read more »