Rome Odunze Reveals Childhood Connection to Bears

The 2024 NFL Draft will be underway in Detroit with Round 1 starting at 7 p.m. CT. The Chicago Bears are going to be one of the most active teams on Day 1, as they own the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks.

It's all but certain they select USC's Caleb Williams with the first overall pick but that No. 9 pick can go in many different directions. Some fans are clamoring for the team to select Rome Odunze of Washington University.

Odunze actually had a connection to the Bears ever since he was a kid, which will bring a smile to fans in the Windy City.

Bears Rumors: Rome Odunze's First NFL Jersey Was A Bears Legend

The Players Tribune interviewed the top prospects in this years class, asking them which player's jersey was the first they ever had as a child. There were some fun throwbacks here (and some that will make fans feel old).

Odunze's answer was Chicago Bears great Brian Urlacher.

He said, "My auntie gave it to me. I think when I came out here to see the Chicago air shows."

In all seriousness, this doesn't mean much for his actual potential to be drafted by the Bears, but it's cool that Odunze's first jersey was Urlacher. The 21-year-old could be a target for the Bears at No. 9.

They already have Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore forming a dominant 1-2 punch but there's a chance they select Odunze.

Allen is entering the final year of his deal, meanwhile, Moore has two years left on his current contract. Adding a young dynamic weapon like Odunze to pair with Williams could be a great idea. For both the present and the future of the organization.

Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Byron Murphy is now the favorite to be the ninth overall pick at +175, with Rome Odunze having the second-best odds at +410.

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