Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Hopes Dashed as Caleb Williams ‘ Closeness With Rome Odunze Throws Curveball at Bears Plans

As the 2024 NFL Draft looms, the players’ fates remain uncertain. While USC Trojans’ Caleb Williams seems to have a secure position with the Chicago Bears‘ top pick, the situation looks less promising for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Insider sources suggest that the Ohio State Buckeyes player’s chances with the Bears are now in doubt. 

The credit goes to the Washington Huskies’ Rome Odunze for getting close to Williams and securing his path into Matt Eberflus’ program. Meanwhile, it was around Harrison Jr. that the new Los Angeles Chargers head coach, Jim Harbaugh, created a mind game.  

Williams and Odunze work on developing a chemistry ahead of the draft

The NFL insider Tom Pelissero spilled the beans about Williams and Odunze being spotted bonding before entering the Bears. According to Pelissero, “Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze didn’t just take the same flight to Detroit for the draft: I’m told Odunze recently caught balls from Williams… who also was throwing with Bears WRs Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore.”

Odunze is considered the third-best wide receiver in the upcoming NFL draft. According to the BR NFL Scouting Department’s ranking, he held the No. 6 overall position and the No. 2 wide receiver behind Harrison Jr. The Bears own No. 1 and No. 9 picks in the first round and four in total. According to Albert Breer’s analysis, Chicago will attempt to move down to add more picks. If Odunze is still on the board at No. 9, Everflus’ program will likely get allured to land the wide receiver. This will allow the Bears to secure the tempting quarterback-receiver combo of Williams and Odunze.  

Blocked paths for Harrison Jr. in the Bears

At Washington, Odunze’s career culminated on a high note. He hailed a school record of 1,640 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Regarding the receiving yards, his numbers landed him the top spot in the NCAA among all players for the 2023 season. Hence, Ryan Poles and the company planned their way down to the ninth pick to land Odunze.

Harbaugh’s plan to draft Harrison Jr. will be fruitful in that case. According to the sources, the Chargers HC has adhered to tactics in endorsing J.J. McCarthy, even though he had been under Harbaugh’s tutelage last season. Even then, the HC wishes not to draft the quarterback; instead, he wants other teams to do so and get his path cleared. With this, he will move closer to his one big plan: draft Harrison Jr. to fill the wide receiver position in his program. 

Hence, Harrison Jr.’s hopes to land in Chicago Bears and to be paired with the USC Trojans quarterback get crashed. It is now to be seen whether the Williams-Odunze quarterback and wide-receiver duo’s chemistry before the draft materializes in the gridiron.