Rome Odunze ready for Bears WR1 role after DJ Moore exit, targets 2026

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze said this offseason he is ready to step into the team’s WR1 role following DJ Moore’s departure. The 23-year-old, drafted ninth overall in 2024, has targeted 2026 as the season to translate that opportunity into production. Coaches have reinforced expectations for him at the top of the depth chart, and Odunze has voiced full confidence in meeting that standard.

After a stop-start second NFL season in 2025 that ended with a postseason return, Odunze believes his rehabilitation and offseason work have positioned him for a larger workload. Staff describe him as a strong, reliable target built on body control and contested catches, traits that Chicago plans to feature more prominently. The Bears view the coming campaign as a chance to stabilize their passing game around a defined No. 1 option.

Odunze entered the league alongside quarterback Caleb Williams — Chicago selected Williams No. 1 overall and Odunze eight picks later — with the expectation that the receiver could command top-target volume as he acclimated to the pros. In his final season at Washington in 2023, he recorded 24 contested grabs, tied for the most in the FBS, underscoring the profile coaches continue to reference.

Statistically, the 2025 campaign presented mixed signals. Independent tracking credited Odunze with three drops, tied for the team lead and in line with a wide cohort of NFL receivers. Coaches view those drops as an outlier rather than a technical flaw, citing his natural hands and contested-catch history. The Bears’ internal review counted 43 team drops last season, a figure the staff has cited in setting offseason priorities.

Injury recovery and playoff return

December setback, then a measured ramp-up

A persistent foot stress fracture flared on December 14 during warmups, prompting a late scratch in Chicago’s 31-3 win over the Cleveland Browns and a shutdown for the rest of the regular season. He returned for the postseason and finished with four receptions for 88 yards across two playoff games. The late-season aggravation forced a conservative approach, with a ramp-up that focused on strength and load management to reduce recurrence risk.

Confidence rebuilt through reps

Position coaches paired Odunze’s college tape with his NFL flashes to reinforce his identity as a premier contested-catch receiver. The staff message emphasized rhythm and timing through repetition rather than wholesale technical changes, underscoring confidence in his hands and tracking ability.

Expectations for 2026 role

Leadership and volume after Moore’s exit

Moore’s departure leaves a leadership and production void that the Bears plan to address by committee, with Odunze positioned at the top of the receiving hierarchy. Coaches anticipate moving him across formations and featuring him in high-leverage situations — third downs, red zone and late-game sequences — to leverage his frame and strength in traffic.

Benchmarks to watch in camp

Key signals ahead of Week 1 include Odunze’s snap share with the starters, his usage on money downs and in the red zone, and how often Chicago schemes isolation throws to exploit his contested-catch edge. A clean preseason and sustained practice volume would strengthen his case as the primary target.

Odunze enters the summer with a clear runway to the WR1 role he was drafted to claim. If health and efficiency align, the Bears’ passing game could consolidate quickly around a defined No. 1 heading into 2026.