Washington Perspective: Get to Know New Bears WR Rome Odunze

The city of Chicago is still abuzz from the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, which netted the Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze. As we get to know the newest Bears, On Tap Sports Net will open dialogue with those who previously covered the players for insight into what to expect on and off the field.

Roman Tomashoff is a co-host of "Locked On Huskies" and a Site Editor for USA Today's Huskie Wire. He took some time to answer questions regarding Odunze, who was a standout receiver at Washington.

Rome Odunze: From Washington to Chicago

Sunny Verma: Seeing Washington Huskies go back to back at picks No. 8 and No. 9 must have been special for you, what does that tell us about where the Washington program is today?

Roman Tomashoff: It’s a fantastic feeling and a really great sign for the future of the program. Even though the Huskies are bound to take a step back in 2024 with all the talent that left for the NFL Draft, Jedd Fisch is in a very good place to continue building the Washington program as it arrives in the Big Ten. His biggest selling point has been “Be A Pro,” and seeing these three guys go in the first round is a solid building block for the future of UW.

Sunny: It seems ever since the Bears had settled into the ninth pick, Rome Odunze was kind of the "dream" scenario for both the fans and the organization. What kind of player are the Bears getting with their new receiver?

Roman: The Bears are getting a fantastic player and leader who can run the entire route tree, can excel when quarterback Caleb Williams has to go off-platform, and is elite in contested-catch situations. Over the last two years at Washington, Odunze has turned himself into a complete receiver, and combined with his impressive athleticism, he could be Chicago’s WR1 for a very long time. He also showed up in the clutch every single time he was called on. Whenever Michael Penix Jr. needed to make a play last season, everyone in the stadium knew he was going to look for Rome Odunze, and he still found a way to come down with the ball every single time.

Sunny: Wide receivers are historically underperforming when it comes to the position being drafted in the first round. What are some weaknesses that Rome will have to shore up as he grows?

Roman: The only weakness that I can find in his game is his tackle-breaking. He can be somewhat elusive after the catch but can get caught by the shoestrings sometimes when looking to pick up YAC [yards after the catch]. After watching his entire college career, even that feels like nitpicking to an extent.

Sunny: We have all seen tape on what Rome can do on the field. Can you tell us about what kind of person he is off the field?

Roman: Rome is one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever had the pleasure of covering off the field. He’s kind, humble, treats everyone with respect, and is someone who will use his platform for good while acting as a role model for the next generation.

Sunny: The Bears started the draft taking quarterback Caleb Williams, and now the offensive weapons around him include wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, tight end Cole Kmet, and running back D'Andre Swift. Take your journalistic hat off and your Washington hat on; how would you describe the situation Rome is coming into as he enters the NFL?

Roman: I’m a huge fan of the situation Rome is coming into. Seeing him work out with Caleb Williams throughout the offseason and looking at the rest of the supporting cast they will have around them in Chicago, I believe that the Bears will have at worst a top-10 offense in the NFL in 2024.

Sunny: Any other tidbits or anecdotes you might have for Bears fans that we may not have heard of yet?

Roman: I can’t say enough good things about Rome off the field. While I can’t point to any one particular instance, all I can say about him is that he’s everything you want in a first-round pick as a person. On the field, I want to highlight a performance that will go down in Washington history. He played the Huskies' matchup against No. 8 Oregon in October with a broken rib and punctured lung and had arguably his best game of the year. He pulled in eight catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which ended up being the game-winning score with 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Sunny: Thank you so much for your time today Roman!

Roman: No problem, I'll have my eyes on Rome and the Bears this season and wish you guys the best of luck!

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