Pro Football Focus highlights the Chicago Bears’ steal in 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears started the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting their new franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. General manager Ryan Poles made five selections throughout, trading back into the draft to select Kansas defensive end Austin Booker. All in all, it was a productive draft for the future of the Bears.

Williams highlights Chicago’s class for obvious reasons. No. 9 overall selection Rome Odunze is going to make Williams’ transition to the league easier by providing him with a big-bodied pass-catching threat. For that reason, among others, Pro Football Focus called Odunze a “steal” in a recent article highlighting the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL Draft.

THE NFL DRAFT’S BIGGEST STEALS ?https://t.co/zwOgkajVWF

— PFF (@PFF) May 2, 2024

“Despite the Bears having just four picks in this year’s draft, the first eight selections put the team in a dream scenario,” PFF wrote. “Rome Odunze fell into their lap at No. 9, with the Washington product having been in the conversation with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers as the best receiver in the class.

Able to win at all three levels and do some damage after the catch, Odunze recorded a 15.5-yard average depth of target, a 4.17 yards per route run mark and a 75% contested-catch rate last season. He rounds out the Bears” receiving room with a dynamic threat for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.”

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The advanced metrics highlight why Odunze was Poles” No. 1 target with the ninth overall selection. Poles’ dreamiest draft-day scenario became true when the New York Giants opted to draft Malik Nabers instead of Odunze at No. 6. After the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons passed on Odunze in favor of players at other positions with the next successive picks, the Bears could have sprinted the Odunze pick to the podium.

Expect first-year offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to field Odunze next to D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in 11 personnel groupings with frequency. Pairing Williams with Odunze means the Bears are going to be a pass-happier offense than usual. “Stealing” Odunze at No. 9 overall will help the Bears field their most exciting offense in recent memory.