The Chicago Bears’ primary goal for 2025 was made clear for the past six months. They are determined to help Caleb Williams reach his full potential as a quarterback. It started with hiring Ben Johnson as the new head coach. He brings is years of outstanding success as an offensive play caller from Detroit. Major additions along the offensive line, at wide receiver, and tight end soon followed. Williams has options everywhere. If he gets the protection he needs, there is no doubt he can take a huge jump forward.
What isn’t clear is how Johnson plans to deploy his newfound assortment of weapons. Colston Loveland creates uncertainty at tight end. Cole Kmet has been the primary guy there for several years. That may change. However, it doesn’t stop there. A fundamental shift could be coming at wide receiver too. D.J. Moore has been the most targeted option for two years since the Bears traded for him in 2023. According to Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog, there is a strong possibility that changes this season.
How would you describe Rome Odunze’s rookie year? “Underwhelming. Is that a coaching thing, or a player thing? It won’t take long to figure that out because Ben thinks he’s going to be a superstar in the league. And Ben is going to design a lot of that offense for him. I’d be buying stock in Rome right now.”
Ben Johnson has good reasons to favor Odunze.
While Moore is a terrific player, most would agree the former 9th overall pick has all the makings of a star. There were glimpses of excellence last season amidst the team’s wider struggled. He had 112 yards against the Colts, 104 against Arizona, and some bigtime clutch catches in the narrow loss to Green Bay. Every time Williams needed a big play, it felt like he looked for Odunze. The only problem was the coaching staff did a poor job find ways to utilize him. That won’t be a problem for Ben Johnson.
He has worked with many talented wide receivers in his coaching career. None exhibit the total package Odunze has: size, strength, speed, and route-running. The only thing missing is a greater share of the pie. He was the third-most targeted receiver on the roster last season behind Moore and Keenan Allen. Allen is gone and Moore is unlikely to get the same preferential treatment under a new staff, especially after his lukewarm production last year. It is Rome’s time.
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