The Chicago Bears might have created the best wide receiver group in the NFL. By snagging wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they’ve added him to the mix alongside D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, who are coming off stellar seasons. Paired with rookie sensation Caleb Williams at quarterback, the Bears wide receivers will be a scary sight for opposing defenses.
Bears Wide Receivers Could Reign As NFL’s Best In 2024
What Makes Bears Wide Receivers D.J. Moore And Keenan Allen Special?
D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen are both top 10 wide receivers in the NFL. Moore’s stats last season were 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns, which were all career highs for him. Similarly, Allen’s stats with the Los Angeles Chargers last season were 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. Next season, the race to reach 1,000 yards will be a close-fought battle. With the addition of Rome Odunze, the Bears have created a three-headed monster at the wide receiver position.
Moore and Allen excel in different areas. Allen has precise route running and an elite understanding of playing in space, while Moore excels in yards-after-the-catch. Their complementary skills make them a perfect match due to Allen’s ability to beat zone coverage and Moore’s ability to beat man coverage. With Odunze joining the two, Caleb Williams should easily transition into the NFL.
What Drafting Rome Odunze Means For The Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze emerged as one of the standout wide receiver prospects in a draft class brimming with talent at the position. Renowned for his exceptional ball skills and remarkable body control, Odunze has a natural knack for catching passes. With a bigger build at 6’3″ and 212 pounds, he is best known for his contested catch ability.
Odunze will thrive with the Bears, where all the pressure won’t be on him with two superstar wide receivers on the team. He will create an immediate impact for not just Caleb Williams but everyone around him. To put into context how good Odunze is, it was reported that over half of the league viewed Odunze as the second-best wide receiver in the draft class over Malik Nabers. Bears General Manager Ryan Poles admitted he felt the pressure as the team approached their pick at nine, revealing that assistant GM Ian Cunningham had to restrain him from attempting to trade up for Odunze.
RD 1 | PK 9 – Bears: Rome Odunze WR, Washington
With the ninth overall pick, the @Bears select one of only two wide receivers to receive an elite 90+ overall grade in the 2024 class.#NFLDraft | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/efYYRGHol1
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 26, 2024
Why The Bears Have The Best Wide Receiver Group In The NFL
The Bears essentially have three WR1s. Allen, Moore, and Odunze all have the ability and have shown to be No. 1 wide receivers on their respective teams. Also, pairing the three together to catch passes from a generational college prospect in Caleb Williams will be a sight to see. Williams has the opportunity to excel in Chicago, throwing to some of the NFL’s most elite pass-catchers.
It’s not just the wide receivers that make it work; it’s also the help around them. The Bears have formed one of the NFL’s best offenses, with critical pieces such as Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, D’Andre Swift, and Darnell Wright. They will allow the group to flourish and become the best wide receiver trio in the NFL.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
