It was evident, based on the footage, that nobody was more intent on finding a way to land Rome Odunze in the 2024 draft than Ryan Poles. The Chicago Bears GM was so nervous that somebody else would take the star Washington receiver that he placed calls to several teams during the 1st round, gauging what it might cost to move up. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham held him in check, insisting the board would break the right way. All the Bears had to do was let it happen. Sure enough, he was right. Odunze slipped past New York, Tennessee, and Atlanta to fall into their laps.
Since then, the rookie has earned rave reviews from everybody who has attended Bears training camp over the past month. He looks every bit like the multiskilled star he was in college. The interesting part is where and how Poles became so infatuated with him. The Bears GM isn’t typically known for falling in love with prospects. He likes players, sure. Yet this feels like the first time where he genuinely had to have somebody. Courtney Cronin of ESPN revealed details of where the love affair started.
New York drafted LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, the Tennessee Titans took offensive tackle JC Latham at No. 7 and the Atlanta Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. Chicago then landed the player they had coveted since Poles watched Odunze explode for two touchdowns and 120 receiving yards on seven catches in Washington’s win over Washington State on Nov. 25.
It was one of the best rivalries in the Pac-12. Washington was closing in on a possible playoff berth. Washington State wasn’t having a good year, but they knew how to play the Huskies tough. Odunze was brilliant that day. He scored twice, first to give Washington a 14-7 lead and then again to give them a 21-14 lead. Unfortunately, the Cougars wouldn’t go away. They scored again with less than six minutes left to tie the game. After both teams traded punts, the Huskies had two minutes left to avoid overtime.
Worse still, they were pinned at their own 10-yard line. Rome Odunze then provided two crucial sparks. He made the first catch of the drive, getting ten yards for a quick first down and moving Washington out of the shadow of their end zone. Four plays later, on 4th and 1, he caught Washington State by surprise with a 23-yard run to put the ball inside Cougars territory. A roughing the passer penalty pretty much sealed it after that, allowing Washington to kick a field goal for the win.
Odunze carried the team that day, and Poles knew it. Chicago needs players like that. The rest is history.
