It is only his third NFL season, but Rome Odunze is quickly entering a year with a lot on the line. The Chicago Bears wide receiver was identified by Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic as the one player on the roster with the most on the line this season.
Chicago Bears WR is Entering Make-or-Break Season
Fishbain notes that Odunze has the chance to ascend to the number one threat of a strong passing attack. However, he could also fade into a depth option.
"Selected eight picks after quarterback Caleb Williams, Odunze has shown so much promise, but his sophomore NFL season was marred by a foot injury and uncharacteristic drops. He has said that his “new normal” is getting used to his foot following the fracture, which sent shudders through the Bears fan base. If Odunze can put it all together and be the team’s No. 1 receiver, he — like his quarterback — would be in line for a massive payday. The Bears haven’t given a multiyear contract extension to a receiver they drafted since Earl Bennett in 2011"Kevin Fishbain
Odunze is a former top ten pick entering his third NFL season. Typically, you will start to see legitimate signs of life by a player's third year. Odunze has had moments and glimpses, but has not put it together for a full year.
He posted 734 receiving yards in his rookie season. Considering the offensive environment, it was a fine year. Still, averaging 1.18 yards per route run was inefficient.
Odunze only played in 12 games in the following year. So, he was unable to top his 734 yards. He posted 661 yards. He did increase in touchdowns, and he was much more efficient in his second season.
He went from 43 yards per game to 55. Odunze also went from 1.18 yards per route run to 1.53. Still, he was unable to sustain it for a full season, and that was not quite the breakout the team was looking for.
So, now he enters a third season where a lot is on the line. If he plays well, the team will have to start to think about an extension. At the very least, they will pick up his fifth-year option, which locks him onto the team for the foreseeable future.
However, if the issues over his first two years continue, the team now has other options to push him down the totem pole. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland both excelled as rookies, and while Odunze is on the list of players with things to prove, the other two are everyone's favorite breakout pick.
So, Odunze can quickly become the third wheel in the passing attack. The Bears might want to keep him beyond his rookie contract, but it will not be at the price he wanted. Chicago also might have to decline his fifth-year option, considering the price tag due to his draft slot.
Odunze could go from a long-term piece to entering one of the last years of his deal depending on how the season goes.
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