With the Chicago Bears holding both the first and ninth overall picks in Thursday’s NFL Draft, there’s a lot of attention on what the team will decide to do.
It seems like a foregone conclusion that they’ll take USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick. But that ninth pick looms large. Will the Bears, who will have just two more picks in the entire draft after Thursday, double up on offense and pair Williams with a wide receiver?
Obviously, there are plenty of smokescreens every draft week, but that certainly appears to be Chicago’s plan.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday night that Williams and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze have already been working out together, as the Bears appear very high on the wideout.
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze didn’t just take the same flight to Detroit for the draft: I’m told Odunze recently caught balls from Williams … who also was throwing with #Bears WRs Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore.
Chicago owns the Nos. 1 and 9 picks, and hosted Odunze on a visit. pic.twitter.com/Axc4PBzlSe
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 23, 2024
“I’m told Odunze recently caught balls from Williams, who was throwing with Bears WRs DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.”
It certainly seems like the Bears plan to select Odunze should he make it to the ninth pick. Williams and Odunze already developing a chemistry is important, as well.
Odunze’s career at Washington finished on a high note, as he hauled in a school-record 1,640 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. His 1,640 receiving yards also led all players in NCAA in the 2023 season, though Odunze did play in both the College Football Playoff semi-final and National Championship.