Rome Odunze’s Day Brightened by Washington Teammates’ Support as He Joins Caleb Williams in Chicago Bears

Perhaps, no NFL team was as lucky as the Chicago Bears on the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft. They not only secured an elite QB prospect in Caleb Williams with their No. 1 pick, but they also ushered one of the best offensive weapons for him as well by drafting the star Washington Huskies WR Rome Odunze with their ninth pick. 

The Bears have been severely lagging in the receiving stats. Former WR Johnny Morris was the leading receiver for the franchise with 5,059 yards in a career spanning a decade. Rome Odunze recorded 3,272 receiving yards in his four seasons in Washington. So, this pick is surely going to turn the team around and Odunze’s former teammates are more than happy for their departing player. 

Rome Odunze receives support from his former Huskies teammates

After being drafted as the No. 9 overall pick by the Bears, WR Rome Odunze receives love and support with a surprise call from his Washington teammates. NFL posted on X a sweet live video of his former teammates hyping him up as he also delivers a positive message to them. After the video, he said, “They’re my dawgs, man. They already know that the locker room is a tight-knit group over there. You know guys, I was right there with you. You guys know the blueprint. You guys know the process. Just continue to do you, continue to work hard, you’ll be wearing one of these hats in the near future.” 

Rome Odunze is finally about to live his dream of catching from the No. 1 pick Caleb Williams at Soldier Field after Tom Pelissero previously reported the two were playing ball with each other. The 21-year-old has been open about his excitement to join the Bears’ offense as he previously revealed on Chicago Sun-Times. He said, “It would be explosive. Honestly, there’s a lot of weapons on the field in that offense.” And now, aside from the excitement from Da Eber Floozies, both the new additions are hyped to play for the Bears. 

Optimism is in the air for the Bears

On Friday, the Bears made the official introduction of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze at Halas Hall with the No. 1 QB expected to wear the No. 18 jersey. Speaking to the media for the first time as an official Bears player, Williams showed his preparedness, saying, “I would say that when you prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually for things like this, for moments like this, when you actually are in the moment, you don’t feel phased. You don’t feel nervous. You don’t feel the butterflies or anything like that. You’re ready for it. You’re prepared for it.”

As for Odunze, he said, “I definitely had the mindset to be happy wherever I went, but in the back of my mind, the Bears visit went tremendously well… You know you always want to be somewhere where you’re wanted, right?” GM Ryan Poles is feeling optimistic and “pumped” that he has now added Odunze along with other explosive weapons like Keenan Allen and DJ Moore to complement Williams. From the bottom of the roster, the Bears might be able to slowly and steadily climb to the top with two explosive player additions from Night 1 of the draft. They still have one more pick coming up with their 75th overall pick in the third round.