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Buzz growing around Bears WR Rome Odunze ahead of 2025 season

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is on the launching pad of a breakout season in 2025.

Published

5 months ago

July 3, 2025

Bryan Perez

Rome Odunze opens up about falling short of expectations in 2024 (News)

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Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze’s talent is undeniable. It’s why he was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and, for some NFL draft experts, was the top receiver in a class that included Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.

However, Odunze’s rookie year left fans wanting more. He finished 2024 with 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns while competing for targets in an offense that featured veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. But Allen is no longer around, and with Ben Johnson taking over as head coach and play caller, Odunze’s massive upside has a chance to shine through in 2025.

It’s why he was dubbed the Bears’ top breakout candidate by A to Z Sports.

“With Ben Johnson drawing up plays now, Odunze will be better utilized for his talents, and having another offseason working with Caleb Williams will clean up some of the connection issues,” Kole Noble wrote. “I easily see Odunze eclipsing 1,000 yards as a sophomore and being the player many expected to see coming into the league.”

1) Rome Odunze

Promising 2024 Rookie Season
– Ran 495 Routes (14th Most, All WRs)
– 94 Air Yards per Game
– 84%+ Snaps Played

The Former 1st Rounder Established Himself as a CHI Offense Staple Piece.

Now in Year Two…

The Offense is Improving BIG TIME…pic.twitter.com/m5P9U3bwxx

— Joe Orrico (@JoeOrricoFF) June 3, 2025

Odunze flashed some of his playmaking upside in 2024, even if it was only in spurts. What gets lost in his rookie year was the number of times he was open and not targeted, a review of his All-22 film revealed a highly schooled route runner who will be a tough cover even for the NFL’s top defensive backs. He proved he could make plays even when he wasn’t open, too. He led the Bears with 13 contested catches and a 72.2% contested catch rate, per Pro Football Focus, despite being a distant third in targets (96).

A reality exists in which Rome Odunze unseats DJ Moore as the Bears’ WR1 and becomes not only the team’s top downfield big-play threat (he owned a team-high 14.2 ADOT in 2024), but also Caleb Williams’ security blanket in underneath throws.

Is a 100-catch, 1,250-yard, 10 TD season within reach? Yes, it is. In fact, with how much of an emphasis the Chicago Bears have placed on making sure the support system around Williams and the passing game was strengthened this offseason, anything short of those numbers would be a disappointment.