The Chicago Bears are ready to begin a new era at quarterback by selecting USC’s Caleb Williams with the first pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft.
It’s such a sure thing that sportsbooks no longer list odds for it happening.
What happens after that, including with Chicago’s second top-10 pick at No. 9, is anyone’s guess.
The Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason looking to upgrade the vertical game at the position. Fields ran the ball well, but the most passing yards he ever had in his three Bears seasons was 2,562 in 2023, which ranked 22nd in the NFL.
So, what will Chicago do at Pick No. 9? Could it be an offensive weapon or pass protector for Williams to help the quarterback in his rookie season, or will the Bears go the defensive route?
Pick No. 9 odds
DT Byron Murphy +145
WR Rome Odunze +350
OT Olu Fashanu +550
LB Dallas Turner +1200
TE Brock Bowers +1200
OT Joe Alt +1500
OT JC Latham +1500
DE Jared Verse +1500
WR Malik Nabers +1500
Odds via DraftKings
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Chicago is trying to beef up the wide receiver position around Williams, as D.J. Moore is coming off a career-best 1,364-yard campaign in his first season with the Bears in 2023.
Keenan Allen spent his first 11 seasons with the Chargers but came to the Bears in a trade last month after racking up more than 1,200 yards in 2023.
Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze didn’t just take the same flight to Detroit for the draft: I’m told Odunze recently caught balls from Williams … who also was throwing with #Bears WRs Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore.
Chicago owns the Nos. 1 and 9 picks, and hosted Odunze on a visit. pic.twitter.com/Axc4PBzlSe
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 23, 2024
One of the top betting choices for the ninth overall selection is Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, who sits at +350 at DraftKings to be picked at No. 9. Odunze hauled in 92 receptions last season for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns to help lead the Huskies to a National Championship appearance.
The betting favorite for the pick is Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who jumped from from +600 to +145 odds from earlier this week, which makes sense since there have been recent reports linking Murphy with the Bears.
