Rome Oduzne Tops List of 'Steals' from NFL Draft
During his introductory press conference at Halas Hall on April 26, 2024, in Lake Forest, Illinois, Rome Odunze, the new #15 for the Chicago Bears, fielded questions from the media. The University of Washington standout was selected ninth overall by the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft held on Thursday.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The 2024 NFL Draft presented the Chicago Bears with a prime opportunity to make transformative selections, thanks to their possession of the first and ninth overall picks. This placed them in an ideal position to pick two of the top talents available.
With the first pick, the Bears secured USC's star quarterback Caleb Williams, marking a significant moment as they potentially established a franchise cornerstone at quarterback for the first time.
While it was clear what the Bears aimed to do with their top pick, the ninth pick was shrouded in speculation. Discussions about possibly trading down were rampant as many teams showed interest in moving up. However, if the Bears chose to retain their pick, the general consensus pointed towards them drafting a top-tier wide receiver, with Rome Odunze being the most likely choice available.
The decision to draft Odunze was met with widespread acclaim, especially from analysts like those at PFF, who labeled the pick as one of the biggest "steals" of the first round.
Despite Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers being selected before him, many are optimistic about Odunze's potential. He is anticipated to quickly become a favored target for Williams, enhancing a receiver group that already boasts talents like DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet. This ensemble could potentially rank as one of the top units in the league in 2024.
| POLL | ||
2 MAI | 92 ANSWERS Rome Oduzne Tops List of 'Steals' from NFL Draft Do you think Rome Odunze will become a top receiver for the Bears? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 87 % |
| No | 12 | 13 % |
| List of polls | ||
