Chicago Bears are pondering huge after drafting QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze

by Christina S. Brown
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The Caleb Williams period is underway in Chicago and Rome Odunze is there, too. Truthful to say, the NFL draft went nearly the best way the Bears hoped.

Chicago kicked it off by taking Williams with the No. 1 general choose and gave the Southern California star one other goal eight spots later by drafting Odunze on Thursday evening. With a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and an All-America receiver from Washington, it wasn’t laborious to see why normal supervisor Ryan Poles was excited.

[NFL Rookie of the Year odds: Caleb Williams opens as favorite]

“To have the alternatives that we did this yr, for all the things to go what I feel is in a very good course, it is actually huge for our soccer group,” Poles stated Saturday. “I feel we made big strides ahead. There’s work to be performed, however that is an influence draft for this group, for certain.”

The Bears added an offensive lineman within the third spherical after they took Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie with the seventy fifth choose on Friday and chosen Iowa punter Tory Taylor within the fourth at No. 122 on Saturday. They traded into the fifth spherical, buying the 144th choose from Buffalo for a 2025 fourth-rounder, and chosen Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker.

Pondering huge

Poles has overhauled the roster in two years and now has the Bears wanting like playoff contenders after going 10-24 with him and coach Matt Eberflus in cost. There is a buzz in Chicago and it isn’t simply due to the prized rookies.

The Bears boast a possible top-tier protection led by edge rusher Montez Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and their offense has an opportunity to grow to be the spine of the franchise for the primary time in many years. They traded with the Los Angeles Chargers for six-time Professional Bowler Keenan Allen, giving them one other high receiver to go along with DJ Moore, and with Odunze within the combine, Williams may have no scarcity of targets.

QB historical past

The quarterback place has been a sore spot traditionally in Chicago. The Bears hope that modifications with Williams.

“The historical past’s the historical past,” Poles stated. “Like I am sort of performed speaking about it. You return a lot on a regular basis and people days are over.”

Caleb Williams eyes ‘immortality’ after being drafted 1st general

Caleb Williams eyes ‘immortality’ after being drafted 1st overall

Williams had 93 landing passes and 14 interceptions over three seasons at Oklahoma and USC. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner requested some questions in regards to the franchise’s historical past with QBs when he met with the Bears. He obtained the solutions he wanted.

“The reason was simply that they have not put all people in the suitable areas,” Williams stated. “That is their mission, purpose right here. That is why you’ve got been seeing the individuals employed — coaches, executives, PR groups and issues like that. Getting these proper individuals to usher in the suitable individuals for the tradition and to result in victories.”

The Bears are the one group to not have a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards in a season.

Robust occasions

If the offense comes collectively as envisioned, it will not simply be opponents having a tricky time. The Bears’ protection may very well be in for a problem, too.

“I feel it’ll be powerful to defend, beginning with follow,” Eberflus stated. “We have gotta defend these guys in follow, which I feel goes to be actually good for our skillset on either side of the ball.”

Homegrown

The Bears went native within the third spherical after they took the 6-foot-5, 323-pound Amegadjie, who’s from the Chicago suburbs.

Amegadjie was first-team All-Ivy League as Yale’s left sort out the previous two seasons after beginning at proper guard in 2021. He might push Braxton Jones for the beginning job at left sort out, although Poles stated he sees Amegadjie as extra of a swing sort out for now who may also play guard.

Punt it

Taylor involves the Bears after a record-setting profession at Iowa.

The Australian set an NCAA mark final season with 4,479 yards punting whereas taking part in for a group with the worst offense within the nation. He’s the Hawkeyes’ profession chief in punts (295) and yards punting (13,657). The Bears ranked close to the underside of the NFL in punting final season with Trenton Gill.

“The leg power. The way in which he can flip the sector,” scout Drew Raucina stated. “He will assist our protection. The whole lot about that he’ll assist us, are available in right here instantly and make an influence.”

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Reporting by The Related Press.


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