Rome Odunze has very ambitious goal for his rookie season

May 23, 2024; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) warms up during organized team activities at Halas Hall Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze is not shying away from high expectations. In fact, he is setting some very ambitious ones of his own.

The No. 9 overall pick in the NFL Draft admitted he has been looking at the record books, including at Brandon Marshall’s single-season Bears record of 1,508 receiving yards. His other target is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who broke rookie records with 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns last season.

“That rookie season record, I’m absolutely chasing that,” Odunze said, via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Of course, [I’m] chasing those records and that’s important. I’ll hopefully leave the Bears organization better than I found it. If I have my name on some of those records, that’s just one facet of doing so.”

There is no doubting Odunze’s confidence. His biggest issue is that he will have to compete with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore for touches, which could significantly limit his statistical ceiling. If he handles the competition with the same coolness as he handled weird NFL Combine questions, he should be fine.

Odunze led college football with 1,640 yards receiving for Washington last season to go along with 13 touchdown receptions.