Why the Bears view Keenan Allen and DJ Moore as the perfect WR duo to guide Rome Odunze originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Rome Odunze knows he’s landed in the best spot for a rookie wide receiver in Chicago.
The Bears drafted Odunze with the 9th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, just eight selections after quarterback with tabs Caleb Williams to be the face of the franchise.
Odunze will not only begin his NFL career alongside Williams, but he will also learn from two of the best receivers in the NFL, DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
The Bears view Odunze as a hybrid of their two veteran stars and believe Moore and Allen will be the perfect combination to guide Washington’s star.
“At the end of the day, I don’t know if you get two better mentors — and two different skill sets,” Bears wide receivers coach Chris Beatty said Saturday after Day 2 of rookie minicamp. “DJ is like a bull in a china shop, and Keenan is like painting the edges of Picasso. DJ, and there is a part of his game that is complex like Keenan.
“Ultimately, I think he can learn from both because his skill set is a little in between and this gives him a chance to learn from two of the best in the business.”
With the offseason additions of Odunze and Allen, the Bears will potentially field the NFL’s most dynamic trio of receivers – one whose skill sets will mesh perfectly as the Bears work to create a lethal offense around Williams.
“You start with DJ; he’s one of the best in the world with the ball in his hands,” Beatty said. “In terms of his ability to attack and create opportunities after the catch, he is the best there is in any league. Keenan, having worked with him on the last [couple of years], does a little of everything. He works third downs like no one else in the business. He is able to work in the midfield, so he can do a lot of things in that sense. Roma can complement them by being a contested catcher outside of the numbers. He can do some things out there, deep down the field, to complement these guys and their games.”
O Bears acquired Allen for a fourth-round pick in March. The 32-year-old is entering his 12th season in the NFL and should be an invaluable asset to everyone in the wide receiver room, from Odunze to Moore.
“Keenan is a veterinarian,” Beatty said. “He’s seen it all and done it all. He’s one of those guys that everyone can trust, because there isn’t a look out there that he hasn’t seen, and he’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met. He’s a great coach off the field He can reiterate things because he knows how I think, and I know how he thinks, so he knows how to say it the way I would like it to be said to younger people.
“He’s one of those guys that everyone grew up watching, so when you actually get a chance to go out there, people are trying to model their game after him when you see him on a daily basis. he is only opposed to highlights on Twitter and YouTube.”
Odunze didn’t train on Saturday due to tight hamstrings, but the rookie wide receiver had everyone at Halas Hall excited, including their new quarterback.
“You obviously understand why he had, what, over 1,500?” Williams said of Odunze on Friday. “And a lot of catches. He’s explosive for his size, explosive route runner and stuff like that. He’s also really smooth in and out of routes and transitions. So working with him has been great, it’s been amazing. I’m excited for what comes next.”
