Ryan Poles didn’t hide how anxious he was as the 1st round of the draft unfolded. He wanted Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. The desire was so strong that he started placing calls to teams picking ahead of the Chicago Bears at #9 to gauge possible trade interest. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham had to calm him down, insisting the board would fall the right way. It was a tense wait. Thankfully, the way was mostly clear after New York took Malik Nabers at #6. Tennessee took a left tackle and Atlanta selected a quarterback. Odunze would get a chance to join DJ Moore and Keenan Allen is Chicago’s most talented receiving corps in years.
Teammates weren’t sure what to expect from the rookie. Being a top-10 pick meant he was talented, obviously. Most scouting reports said he was a smart, strong receiver who was excellent in 50/50 situations. However, it didn’t take Moore long to realize those reports were wildly underselling Odunze. During his latest press conference, he admitted that the rookie is way faster than anybody expected. Maybe even faster than him. This is backed up both by analytics and film study.
Being a good route runner and fast is one thing. Being those things and also 6’3″ is a potentially lethal combination. Odunze’s game has no significant holes. You can line him up anywhere, and there is a strong chance he’s going to win his matchup. The only thing holding him back now is an inability to get him the ball more often. That comes with playing on a roster with Moore, Allen, and Cole Kmet. There are only so many targets to go around.
It is probably not a coincidence that Odunze had a breakout game against Indianapolis since Allen was out with an injury. That allowed Caleb Williams to look his way more often. He finished with 112 yards and a touchdown and probably should’ve had more, if not for some near-misses down the field. DJ Moore is right to be awed by the rookie. He already displays the detailed approach and discipline of a veteran. If Williams starts going his way more often, the results will be substantial.
