Chicago Bears Mock Draft buzz: Is Rome Odunze the consensus pick at No. 9?

Okay, so it would shock the world if the Chicago Bears did not select Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.  At this point, there is no point in debating who goes at the top of the draft, but nabbing the top QB prospect allows Chicago some flexibility with their No. 9 selection, which is becoming as much of a lock as Williams.

NFL mock drafts have been having more fun with what the Bears will do at No. 9 with the common selection being Washington’s Rome Odunze. 

One of the top 3 wide receiver prospects in the draft, Oduze is a big-bodied, physical wide receiver who has drawn NFL comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald.  If he comes anywhere close to that then Bears general manager Ryan Poles must grab him at No. 9.

2024 NFL Draft: Rome Odunze will bring leadership and physicality to the Chicago Bears offense

A team captain with the Washington Huskies, Odunze not only has the physical tools to dominate in the NFL, but he also has the maturity and overall talent to be a special player in any offense.  With the Bears he wouldn’t come into the league with a lot of pressure put on him as the team has gone out and got Keenan Allen to go with D.J. Moore.

So, the advantage for Poles and the Bears is this is somewhat of a bonus pick for them and a selection just about every top mock draft is agreeing on.  The question is, is he the consensus pick for Chicago or more of a dream pick in terms of what the team will do in the draft?

Let’s look at why mocks have Odunze as the man at No. 9.

CBS NFL Mock Draft – Rome Odunze: The Bears can go in any direction with the No. 9 overall pick in the NFL Draft.  They could even trade back and gain more draft picks in this draft, but according to Pete Prisco in his latest mock draft, the Bears should seize the opportunity and grab another weapon in Odunze.

“They have D.J. Moore and traded for Keenan Allen, but Allen is getting up in the years and Rome Odunze would be a top receiver for a long time for Caleb Williams. Why not add another weapon, even if pass rusher is a possibility here.”

As a top 3 wide receiver in the 2024 NFL draft, Odunze wouldn’t have pressure to step in and be a factor on Day 1 as a rookie.  He can ease his way into the offense by learning from a veteran receiver like Allen.  With Moore as the burner, Odunze would make a nice third option for Williams in an offense that also has tight end Cole Kmet. 

Although the Bears could afford to go defense here or even select an offensive lineman, scooping up Odunze would give Williams a young receiver to form chemistry with and an eventual replacement for Allen as a No. 2 or even No. 1 option in the Bears’ offense down the road.

PFF NFL Mock Draft - Rome Odunze:  In the Pro Football Focus latest NFL Mock Draft, the Bears also select the Washington product at No. 9 as the best prospect available.

PFF’s Steve Palazzolo writes in his big board analysis:

“In an offense filled with future NFL players at the skill positions, Odunze was the best of the bunch. If he weren't in a class with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, we would be talking about him as an easy WR1 and a player worthy of a top-10 pick, although the latter is still true for 2024.”

That is just how good Odunze was in 2023 with the Washington Huskies catching the ball from Michael Penix Jr.  Imagine his production in an offense where he doesn’t need to be the top target right away?  Imagine him catching the ball from Caleb Williams?

NFL.com NFL Mock Draft – Rome Odunze:  The theme here is surrounding Caleb Williams with as many weapons as possible and that is what NFL Network Host Rhett Lewis has the Bears doing with selection of Odunze.  When you have an opportunity to draft a franchise quarterback and a receiver capable of being an No. 1 option, you do it.

Lewis writes:

“Support your young franchise QB! Just look at what the Texans have done for C.J. Stroud. Chicago follows a similar strategy, bringing in a third high-level WR to assist Caleb Williams. Odunze is on the same tier as Harrison and Nabers. The Bears might just "win" the draft with this tandem of top-10 picks.”

While there have been mock drafts that have had the Bears going with a defensive stud like Dallas Turner or even trading back and taking a player like Jared Verse which out sister site Bear Goggles On has the team doing by trading all the way back to No. 22 in the first round, the consensus pick is Odunze and its hard to disagree with any of the top mock drafts that has Chicago going wide receiver.

In all, it should be a fun draft for Poles as he looks to build around Williams on offense and Montez Sweat on defense.  If he drafts Odunze, the Bears will put an entertaining product on the field, a team that can and will compete in the NFC North.  The ceiling will depend on Williams and how well he adjusts to NFL life.  Adding as many weapons as possible should help with that process.