Odunze led the NCAA in yards receiving last season.
Lindsey Wasson/AP Photos
The Bears are giving rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as many options as possible down the field. They drafted Washington standout wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick Thursday, following their selection of Williams first overall.
Odunze led the NCAA with 1,640 yards receiving last season on 92 catches and scored 17 touchdowns. There was debate over whether he or LSU’s Malik Nabers was the second-best receiver in this class after Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr.
It’s a huge pick for Bears general manager Ryan Poles at what has been a problematic position. He thought he had stacked his wide receiver room last year with DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, but Claypool was a disaster and Mooney struggled before leaving to the Falcons in free agency.
Now, with Moore, Keenan Allen and Odunze, the Bears have an excellent trio of receivers for Williams, along with tight end Cole Kmet and running back D’Andre Swift.