In last year’s NFL draft, the Chicago Bears took the bulky Washington WR Rome Odunze ninth overall. A selection that was questioned by many and praised by some. The talent is certainly there, but will his game all come together? Only time will tell.
Another name that comes to mind when you think of big receivers is Brandon Marshall. Marshall, who was an absolute weapon for this team during his short tenure in Chicago, has been drawn comparisons to many bigger receivers in years past, including Odunze.
The former star wide receiver bounced around the league quite a bit during his NFL career, but every team he landed on seemed to feel his impact. In 2012, he put up a career-high 1,508 receiving yards with the Bears, making himself a well-known name in the Windy City.
Odunze is indeed similar to Marshall. Both are big-bodied, strong receivers who can out-muscle most defensive backs and probably beat them in a footrace as well. The opportunity to learn from a potential Hall of Fame WR is something he shouldn’t take for granted.
Rome Odunze is a special talent at wide receiver; Can former Bears star Brandon Marshall coach him up?
Odunze had an up-and-down rookie campaign, but that was expected playing with a rookie quarterback in a brand-new offense. Now, in true Bears fashion, Odunze will have to learn another offense in just his second season as he hopes to continue building chemistry with Caleb Williams.
The University of Washington standout had 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns throughout his rookie season. His production wasn’t super high, and the tape didn’t stand out either, but strides will be expected to be made in year two.
Helping with that cause could be Marshall, as mentioned earlier he is interested in potentially working with Odunze this off-season. CHGO Bears posted on X, formally known as Twitter, a clip of Marshall discussing his thoughts on the situation.
Brandon Marshall’s advice for Rome Odunze?
“Come work with me” 👀🔥#SUPRBWL | Presented by @CircaSports pic.twitter.com/QWzxQ3SQmf
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) February 7, 2025
“Come work with me.”
Marshall seems to be begging the younger guys in the league to reach out to the veterans for advice and even offering to work out with one another. The brotherhood in the league is often overlooked by rookies. That has to be a welcome sign for Bears fans, as Marshall could teach Rome a thing or two about using his size as an advantage.
Wide receiver will likely not be a point of interest from the front office this off-season, and that is due to taking Odunze so early in last year’s draft. D.J. Moore is also still elite at his position and should also continue to build a relationship with Williams in the coming year. This year’s draft will be more about filling the trenches, or at least it should be.
How will Rome Odunze fit in Ben Johnson’s offense?
How Rome Odunze will fit in Johnson’s high-powered offense is yet to be seen, but he should do just fine. When you look at how the Detroit Lions operated, it was a lot of down-the-field throws and committing to the rushing attack. If the Bears can nail this draft and free agency period, solidifying the offensive line, things should work out just fine.
When new coaches get hired, things can get tricky. We see it all the time, especially in the NFL when it comes to coaches giving up on players they didn’t personally draft. The leash does seem to be shorter.
Odunze is likely to see a major uptick in targets and snaps just because Keenan Allen is unlikely to return, and that in tune should help him develop. QB Caleb Williams will also need to show improvement as well. The two will have to learn together.
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