Rome Odunze might be the most talented logo to come out next year. Against all odds, he’s making waves and positioning himself to become the team’s top wideout. Odunze had a fantastic preseason showing. Through his hard work, he’s earned the trust of quarterback Justin Fields, who has consistently looked to him in games. The Bears are hell-bent on improving their passing game. Combined with his powerful 6-foot-3, 214-pound stature, Odunze becomes an intimidating force at the catch point.
Odunze had an impressive first season. He played an important role in the passing game, finishing third on the Bears’ receiving chart with 54 catches, 734 yards and three touchdowns. His knack for making big-time plays when the chips are down has already raised his profile with the team to a position of greater prominence. So it was with Odunze’s breakout moment, which came just three weeks into his brand-new NFL career. Even in a very close defeat at Indianapolis, he proved his upside and fighter’s edge.
The Bears are planning to get creative this offseason. Odunze has emerged as a go-to target for Fields. The synergy in Fields and Odunze’s game has been clear throughout the preseason. Fields repeatedly looked in the direction of Odunze, particularly in high-leverage red-zone scenarios.
In just 27 career plays with the first-team offense, Odunze made all of them worth it. He was targeted a team-high five times, catching three passes for 45 yards while scoring a touchdown. This trend of targeting is not new. Odunze caught Fields’ first NFL touchdown pass, marking a significant milestone in both players’ careers.
Odunze’s statistics reveal his growing importance within the Bears’ offense. That’s because he logged 13 end-zone targets last year, the 11th most in the NFL. With 37% of his 101 targets being off-target throws, that was the worst rate in the league among players with at least 60 targets. Still, he proved his ability to create production even through less-than-ideal passes.
The young receiver expressed his eagerness and readiness to contribute significantly to the Bears’ success.
“I want to get the ball as early and as often as I can,” – Rome Odunze.
This decision is a sign of his growing awareness of the type of player he intends to be in the Bears’ offensive approach. He believes that his skills can help the team’s performance, stating:
“As a wide receiver and a playmaker, I feel like I have the ability to make this offense move and have explosive plays. So you know, I want the ball on every play.” – Rome Odunze.
As he works toward becoming Fields’ top target, Odunze is aware of the skill on the team’s depth chart. He emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, saying:
“But I play my role within the offense. Caleb’s a great quarterback who’s going to be versatile with his weapons, as well as Ben and the offensive staff to get the ball around.” – Rome Odunze.
What gives Odunze the confidence is how he finds ways to be productive even when everything works against him. He reflected on his rapport with Fields, adding:
“Honestly, I appreciate him putting it up there and giving it a shot,” – Rome Odunze.
As he further grows and matures, Odunze hopes to establish himself as one of the biggest weapons for the Bears. Odunze outproduces established talents such as Keenan Allen on the receiving end. Allen is 744 yards on just 70 targets, so the window dressing to Odunze’s potential is even further tantalizing.
Beyond his size and athleticism, Odunze’s mental toughness is apparent in how he approaches receiving production. He has a lot of confidence that no matter what, he’s going to be able to hold on to the ball.
“I believe that it’s going to be me or nobody. He has that reassurance that I’m not going to let the ball be in the enemy team’s hands.” – Rome Odunze.
The Chicago Bears are making some intriguing moves as they prepare for next year. Rome Odunze is on his way to emerging as their top dog in the passing attack. His combination of size, skill, and high motor make him a special prospect and one of the players who is most interesting to watch closely.
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