Field Yates Grades Odunze, Cooper DeJean Among Best Picks, Steals of 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears added their quarterback of the future when they drafted Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL draft, but their second pick was just as important and earned massive praise.

ESPN's Field Yates listed the Bears' selection of wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick as one of the best picks of the draft.

"Coming out of the first round with the Williams-Odunze duo is a dream scenario for Chicago," Yates stated. "Odunze was my sixth-ranked prospect, and I firmly believe that no matter how talented a young quarterback is -- and Williams is plenty talented -- a team should do everything in its power to surround him with the best possible supporting cast. The Bears furthered that effort with the addition of Odunze to a now-stacked receiver room. He's an exceptional route runner, and Williams will love his contested catch ability."

Odunze is joining a Chicago receiving corps that includes D.J. Moore and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this offseason. The Washington product will surely benefit from learning from the veterans before eventually taking over as the Bears' No. 1 receiver.

Another pick that caught Yates' attention was the Philadelphia Eagles' selection of cornerback Cooper DeJean in the second round. DeJean was rated much higher on many draft boards, so Philadelphia landing him where it did was considered one of the biggest steals of the draft.

"I'm enough of a fan of DeJean that if he had gone No. 22 overall to the Eagles, he would have made my list of favorite first-round picks. But at No. 40? Steal," Yates wrote. "The Eagles' need for speed this offseason has now been met with the additions of Mitchell and DeJean, the latter of whom offers positional versatility to boot. DeJean is a springy, confident man-to-man coverage player with elite ball skills -- he picked off seven passes in college."