Bears first-round draft pick Rome Odunze has finished his rookie minicamp– here’s how his first look with Chicago went and what he had to say.
LAKE FOREST, ILL.– Chicago Bears’ first-round draft pick Rome Odunze has just finished the team’s rookie minicamp and will now look to join the team for offseason OTAs. Him and first-overall selection Caleb Williams will try to be a dynamic rookie duo between quarterback and receiver in 2024. Odunze has been reported to be doing well on building a connection in Chicago especially with a loaded receiver room and updated offense from the 2023 season.
“You know, it’s just been me trying to settle in with the team, with everybody in the locker room, and the city of Chicago as a whole,” Odunze said to UPROXX. “So, it’s been a good experience. The support and everything from the organization, from the family has all been good. So, I’m just finding my way, getting settled, trying to find a spot, trying to find my routine in it all. But, taking it day by day and it’s all a blessing. I’m super grateful for it.”
Rookie minicamp just ended for the Bears on the 11th and offseason OTAs started on the 20th. This means we got to see our first look at the Bears’ offense which just named Caleb Williams as the starter at quarterback. This subsequently puts Rome Odunze in the spotlight who is excited for an opportunity to work with Williams.
“Right, I think I’ve been building the relationship on and off the field,” Odunze said to UPROXX at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. “You know, he’s tremendously talented on the field. I think everybody knows that he’s able to do whatever he wants out there with his talent level and the way he studies the game.
“We’ve been studying plays together. He’s been helping me learn some stuff. And I’ve been giving him my input on other things, so it’s been great. And then just being able to bond with him, grow our relationship off the field as well has been awesome. You know, both coming in as rookies, both finding our place in all of this. So, it’s been a great thing to be able to be alongside of him.”
The connection seems to be amicable, and as was expected with two first round picks. Odunze was touted as one of the best receiver prospects to be coming out of the draft in 2024 and his high poll position definitely speaks volumes of the Bears’ expectations for him. Odunze dazzled during his time in Washington with 1,640 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 92 receptions. His 4.8% drop rate was one of the lowest amongst qualified receivers according to Sports Info Systems. He also had the ninth-highest depth of completion at 12.1 yards showcasing his explosive ability. Odunze was wildly efficient when it comes to his advanced metrics too– 80.4% on first down percentage and 109.3 yards per game.
Odunze will join a stacked wide receiver room alongside Keenan Allen and DJ Moore– two veterans who have earned their keep in the NFL.
Rome Odunze is grateful to work with them too, “Well to start with, their routine. Just learning their routine, how they’ve been able to be in the game for this long, what they do each and every day that people don’t see on camera, and the big highlight plays on the Instagram and the Twitter, wondering what they do behind the scenes that has led them to be as great as they are. So my first thing is learning those things. Then, when it comes to on the field, all their techniques and different things that they do within the route, I just sit back there with an open mind and soak up all that I can.”
