Getty Wide receiver Rome Odunze of the Washington Huskies.
Most of the NFL draft buzz around the Chicago Bears continues to focus on the top overall pick, but one NFL insider is predicting the team will make a surprise selection at No. 9.
The positions of left tackle and pass-rusher are arguably the two most important behind quarterback, which Chicago will address at No. 1 regardless of their decision — either by drafting Justin Fields‘ replacement or moving off the selection, thereby committing to Fields for the long-term.
A logical assumption, then, is that the Bears will look to their QB’s blindside (whomever that player may be) or try and disrupt the flow of opposing quarterbacks by drafting a game wrecker off the edge.
However, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. believes Chicago will zig where most expect the franchise to zag and select wide receiver Rome Odunze out of Washington with the 9th pick.
Rome Odunze Offers Complement to DJ Moore if Bears Draft QB Caleb Williams
GettyWashington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Kiper’s thinking is tied to his projection that the Bears will draft quarterback Caleb Williams out of USC and look to immediately supplement his surrounding group of pass-catchers.
Chicago likely will take a hard look at the edge rushers in this class to try to find a starter to play on the other side of Montez Sweat. … [Dallas] Turner could have been a fit, and I also thought about Laiatu Latu (UCLA), who is the best pure pass-rusher in this class. But with the Bears’ second top-10 pick, I want to slot in a playmaker for the new quarterback I gave them at No. 1.
Odunze had 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Huskies in 2023. He played out wide and inside — 30 of his catches came from lining up in the slot — and ran every route in the receiving tree. This would be tremendous value for Odunze, who is No. 5 overall on my board. He could be the 1B to DJ Moore, who had a great first season in Chicago. And with Williams throwing them the ball, the Bears’ offense would be extremely dynamic.
Bears Have Solid Tackle in Braxton Jones, Invested Heavily in Montez Sweat
GettyLeft tackle Braxton Jones of the Chicago Bears.
Another argument for Chicago taking Odunze is that the team appears to have found a viable starter at left tackle in Braxton Jones.
The fifth-round draft pick in 2022 finished last season as the 35th-ranked tackle out of 83 players who saw enough snaps to quality at the position, per Pro Football Reference. PFF attributed just 2 sacks to Jones in 2023. He was also responsible for only 9 penalties across 724 snaps.
Beyond that, the Bears just spent the equivalent of a Day 2 to acquire Sweat, dealing their second-round selection to the Commanders at the 2023 trade deadline to land the defensive end. The team needs more help at the position, but Chicago just invested $98 million over four years to extend Sweat and can justify rounding out the offense after an expensive year on the defensive side of the football.
Kiper also has wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers coming off the board at No. 4 and No. 6, respectively. The position is growing in value throughout the NFL, evidenced by the increasing salaries of players like Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill.
Each man set the record for the richest contract at the position a couple offseasons past. Justin Jefferson is likely to reset the bar when he extends in Minnesota, and Ja’Marr Chase could outpace Jefferson’s contract in short order.
As such, securing a playmaker alongside Moore on a rookie contract is a reasonable financial decision in 2024.