Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Caleb Williams has great expectations for himself and Rome Odunze.
The 2024 first-round picks caught an impressive 45-yard pass in Saturday’s 27-3 preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals, showing the pair’s great potential for the regular season.
After the win, Williams said he was looking forward to playing alongside Odunze and building on their already strong bond.
“We’re going to be explosive,” Williams said, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “We’re two freshmen, but we’re trying to catch up to the old guys as quickly as possible to make sure we’re on par with them to be efficient, to function, to go out there and be explosive, to be on the same page and win games. That’s ultimately what we’re here to do. With a guy like him drafted with me, we’re only going to continue to grow and continue to build that connection.”
The Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 pick in the draft and Odunze with the No. 9 pick. This shows how much hype there was around both players after their college careers, and their statistics at the college level also confirm this.
Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy and was still going strong in his senior year, throwing for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns with just five interceptions in his final year at USC. Odunze had a successful 2023 season, recording 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns for a Washington team that reached the CFP National Championship.
The Bears hope both players can rise quickly and help the franchise win consistently. Chicago last reached the postseason in 2020 and hasn’t made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2005-06. While the NFC North is tight, the presence of young up-and-coming stars like Williams and Odunze means a window is opening and the team hopes to capitalize on it.