The Chicago Bears' decision to select wide receiver Rome Odunze in the ninth-overall pick of Thursday's NFL Draft 2024 was met with sheer excitement by quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Bears had earlier selected Williams, a former Heisman winner, as the draft's No. 1 overall pick. And the NFL's newest start couldn't contain his joy when Odunze's selection was announced, marking another step towards his dream of creating a dynasty in Chicago.
"Hell yea," he shouted, referring to Odunze. "I would've spiked this water bottle but we've got cameras. We got our guy. We're great vibes today."
Odunze, who spent four seasons with Washington and arrived in Seattle as a four-star recruit, had struggled to live up to expectations with less than 500 receiving yards in his first two seasons. However, the arrival of star quarterback Michael Penix Jr, who was picked eighth by the Atlanta Falcons earlier that evening, completely turned around both Washington and Odunze's fortunes.
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Odunze, with his 1,200 receiving yards and a game-changing average of 15 yards per reception, was instrumental in leading Washington to an impressive 11-2 campaign. However, it was his record-breaking senior season that really caught Williams' attention.
The 6ft3in senior set the UW single-season record and led all receivers in 2023 with over 1,600 yards through the air, playing a key role in the Huskies' dynamic passing attack that resulted in the school's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
NFL scouts have been singing praises about Odunze's blistering open-field speed and impeccable route running, though they've expressed slight concerns about the receiver's physicality and immediate burst. Williams got a firsthand look at Odunze's extraordinary talent this past season when he made five catches as Washington stormed into South Central LA and clinched a thrilling 52-42 victory over USC.
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Williams himself had quite an impressive run in his final two seasons of college football, following coach Lincoln Riley to USC and bagging the Heisman Trophy in just his first season with the Trojans. Despite taking a slight step back in 2023, Williams still managed to rack up 4,000 passing yards in each season.
The ex-Trojan sharpshooter has allegedly been the Bears' top pick with the No. 1 overall selection for months ahead of Thursday's draft, and it's reported that both parties have had 'frank and positive' talks throughout the offseason.
Williams has expressed his ambition to create a legacy at the new Soldier Field, openly stating his long-term aim of surpassing iconic quarterback Tom Brady and his NFL-record seven Super Bowls. His response to Odunze's selection indicates that the Washington product is likely to play a crucial role in Chicago's future plans.
