After selecting Caleb Williams as the number one overall pick, GM Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears hoped Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze would be available at their ninth pick.
They believed Odunze was a great fit for their culture and had immense talent, making him an ideal companion for Williams.
However, the unpredictability of the NFL draft meant Poles had to prepare for the possibility that Odunze might not be available, so he had a list of alternate names ready.
Fortunately, Odunze was still available when it was the Bears’ turn to pick. The New York team passed on him at #6, Tennessee chose an offensive lineman, and Atlanta picked a quarterback, allowing Poles to get his preferred player.
Though the Bears never disclosed their backup options, the NFL Films documentary “The Pick Is In” on the Roku Channel revealed the other names considered by Chicago’s scouting department, which had been divided into three groups to focus on specific positions. The final list included:
– Rome Odunze
– Marvin Harrison Jr.
– Malik Nabers
– Brian Thomas
– Joe Alt
– Olu Fashanu
– J.C. Latham
– Taliese Fuaga
– Laiatu Latu
– Byron Murphy
– Dallas Turner
– Jared Verse
If Odunze had not been available, Poles had planned to trade down from the ninth pick to collect extra draft picks, aiming to select one of the top defensive linemen to support Montez Sweat.
However, Odunze’s availability made this unnecessary, and the Bears secured their desired player.
The decision to prioritize their young quarterback was widely praised, especially given that they already had D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen.
This move demonstrated Chicago’s commitment to providing Williams with ample offensive weapons, signaling a shift in focus towards strengthening their offense for future success.
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