Bears rookie Rome Odunze puts Rams WR Puka Nacua on notice

Odunze was one of the most productive college receivers during his last two seasons at the University of Washington. He logged 167 receptions, 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns. He led the NCAA in yards (1,640) and ranked sixth in catches (92) and touchdowns (13) in 2023.

If he’s gunning for Nacua’s records though, he has his work cut out.

Odunze will likely be the third option in Chicago’s passing offense, and targets will likely be at a premium with him behind D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen on the depth chart.

Nacua was Matthew Stafford’s primary target during the first four games of the season with Copper Kupp out with an injury. The 2023 fifth-round pick set the bar high with a combined 25 receptions and 266 yards in the first two weeks, and he finished the year with 160 targets — second-most by a rookie wideout behind Anquan Boldin.

A second-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, Boldin used to be the gold standard for first-year receivers. He held the rookie receiving yards record (1,377) for 17 seasons before it was broken by Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson in 2020 (1,400), Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase in 2021 (1,455) and Nacua in 2023.

Boldin also owned the rookie receptions record (101) for 18 seasons before he was surpassed by Miami’s Jaylen Waddle in 2021 (104) and Nacua last year.