Before this season began, the Chicago Bears started out emphatically with the rookie selections of quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze with their top-10 picks in the 2024 NFL draft.
The hype behind the arrivals of Williams and Odunze was high, but in hindsight it's easy to look at the team's inability to improve their offensive line. Even with the season being an extreme disappointment for the Bears as a team, both Williams and Odunze have had respectable outputs on the year, putting up solid individual stats. Both players have admitted that their individual stats don't take precedent, and they'd rather have team success, but Williams also knows that the connection between the two will be crucial to the team moving forward.
"It's been great to be able to have a young guy with me, like Rome, a spectacular person, spectacular player," Williams told the media on Monday. "Being able to have him here, grow with him, our relationship over the years is going to be vital for the team. Being able to continue that, grow that, it's going to be fun. I think he's going to get better, especially with the guys he's had this year with him [DJ Moore and Keenan Allen] two guys who have been doing it for a while, I think it's helping him."
With Keenan Allen an impending free agent, the growth and development of Odunze is crucial for the future of the Bears receiving core working with Williams. Having both rookies come in together was exciting, but they'll now be tasked with working with a new coaching staff that will look to get the most out of both guys at their respective positions.