NFL Players Comparing Each of the Five Draft Picks by the Chicago Bears

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Peter Jurich

Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and the Chicago Bears | David Banks/USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 NFL Draft is finally behind us after a grueling few months, and the Chicago Bears have expanded their roster with the addition of five intriguing prospects. Sadly, Bears supporters will have to wait many months to witness these individuals suit up for the first time, and by then, the excitement around the draft will have subsided.

Even still, it is difficult to ignore the possibility of these guys contributing to the squad the following season, which heightens the interest in contrasting them with current and former NFL players. Though it can be a fun exercise to consider the expectations for specific players, NFL comparisons can be highly challenging because individuals succeed or fail based on a variety of criteria other than what prior players they resemble.

That being said, let’s take a close look at some expert comparisons for each of the five most recent Chicago Bears draft picks. Recall that comparing two players does not imply that their careers will be identical; rather, it highlights the parallels in their styles of play and the possible future roles they may have. Let’s compare some players now, without further ado. Let’s start with the first overall pick:

Pick 1 in Round 1: Quarterback Williams, Caleb
Aaron Rodgers within the body of Baker Mayfield

This combination makes some sense, especially in light of Caleb Williams’ previous attendance at USC and Oklahoma. Williams, the most recent Lincoln Riley-coached quarterback to succeed at the collegiate level, is almost exactly the same size as his Sooner predecessor, Baker Mayfield. At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, both players weighed roughly 215 pounds; Williams is almost half an inch taller and has significantly longer arms and larger hands.

Williams yet aspires to play more in the vein of Aaron Rodgers, a player that Bears supporters are all too familiar with. While Rodgers is undoubtedly a surgical in the pocket, his true value is revealed when things unravel and he uses his legs as a scrambler to create up space behind the line of scrimmage and get his receivers free downfield. Given his ability to make every throw along with his athleticism and patience, it’s little wonder Williams takes inspiration from the former quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Williams’ ability to develop and deliver from odd angles is very similar to that of Aaron Rodgers, but he will need more experience playing against NFL defenses before he can completely match Rodgers’ processing level.

Pick 9 in Round 1: Wide Receiver Rome Odunze Keenan Allen with increased burst

Rome Odunze has a special combination of physical ability and technical consistency that made him one of the class’s best pass-catchers during the pre-draft process. Finding a 6’3″ receiver with Odunze’s outstanding combination of speed and explosiveness is difficult; his remarkable combine testing results attest to the latter. Odunze has the skill to elevate his game regardless of size or athleticism, and a new Chicago Bear may be the ideal mentor for him.

While Odunze and Keenan Allen are similar in size and length, Allen is not quite as athletic as Odunze. Allen was acquired recently. Nevertheless, because of his excellent body control, forceful hands, and precise route running, Allen has ruled the NFL for more than ten years. These are already characteristics of Odunze’s game, but having Allen help him hone these abilities can only help him grow. With his current circumstances, Odunze has a wonderful opportunity to develop as a player. In all likelihood, he might develop into a player even more physical and athletic than Allen.