Ideal Bears Second Pick Could Be Tall Target

Although edge rusher was Matt Eberflus' first thought when asked about Bears needs besides quarterback, the possibility exists they could look at wide receiver.

When your second receiver under contract after DJ Moore is either a second-year player with 19 career catches or Velus Jones Jr., there's a need.

In mock drafts, the most often projected Bears pick at No. 9 overall is Washington receiver Rome Odunze. The Bears would be uniting two Pac-12 stars in this case very familiar with each other.

"Yeah, definitely, I got to see Caleb first hand," Odunze told reporters at the combine. "I got to see his talents and abilities. So definitely. I know he's a student of the game and someone who brings a lot of passion and a lot of desire to the game.

"So, of course, to be paired up with him it would be something special."

Odunze isn't a friend of Williams' yet, though.

"I've seen him interacting with all of us," Odunze said. "I got to say what's up a couple times. But haven't really interacted much. But I feel his vibe. I feel like he's a good dude."

The NFL Mock Draft Database is now at 96% of more than 600 mock drafts tracked as projecting Williams to the Bears, while Odunze at No. 9 is the consensus for them exactly half that rate. However, this is relatively high for a pick at No. 9.

No one can be certain about a pick by No. 9 because much depends on what goes on after Williams would be the first pick.

Odunze said the Bears would be a solid place to go for a reason in addition to the possibility they could take Williams. He'd be playing and learning from DJ Moore.

"Definitely would like to play with him," Odunze said. "He's a baller, especially last season with his yards after catch and he's able to make a big play. Big fan of DJ."

If it's Odunze at No. 9, he thinks the Bears would be getting someone with ideal skills for the classic X-type receiver. He'll go deep or up for the ball.

"I think a lot of people underrate my speed, my explosiveness," Odunze said. "See a lot of that on tape and my separation as well.

"I don't know where those things (underrating) come from. If you watch the entire tape, you'll see."

At 6-foot-3, 201 pounds, Odunze is one of the taller receivers in a strong receiver draft class and sees himself as a master of the 50-50 ball.

"People say it's 50-50," he said. "For me, it's 100-0, right?

"I feel like you have to go in with that mindset that it's you and the ball. The defender is not even there. Just go and elevate and get the ball and you'll come down with it."

The Bears will have their choice of taller receivers after the ninth pick, although it's quite a drop right now to No. 75 in Round 3 and their next pick. There could be options still after No. 9 for them.

"The class is deep and I think we'll come into the league and have a lot of success," Odunze said. "I feel like there's a lot of determined guys in the class and a lot of guys ... I feel like this class we got a lot of height.

"I feel like some of the wide receivers in the league are more toward those small guys who are more in an out. But I feel like this class has a lot of 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3, 6-foot-whatever-the-hell Johnny Wilson is."

The Florida State receiver is 6-7.

"I feel like this class is big and athletic and I feel like we're bringing in a different spectrum of receiver," Odunze said.

Maybe the only thing as lofty as the height and ability to sky from this receiver group is Odunze's goal.

"I think a successful career would be ending in the Hall of Fame," he said. "I want to go at least 10 years. That would hopefully be what it would take. But I want to be one of the best to ever play the game and end up in the Hall of Fame."

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven