We Finally Know Who Bears Eyed If Rome Odunze Didn't Fall In Draft

GM Ryan Poles' plan was obvious as the Chicago Bears waited at the 9th overall pick on night one of the draft. He wanted Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. The team fell in love with the young man both for his outstanding ability and elite character. Poles worked the phones, trying to gauge the price tag to move up. Only the calm intervention of assistant GM Ian Cunningham convinced him to wait it out. Eventually, Odunze got past #7 and #8 and fell into the Bears' lap. It was an easy decision from there.

The interesting, unasked question in all of this is who would the team have taken had the receiver not been there? There was plenty of speculation but no definitive evidence. This may have finally changed. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune caught up with head coach Matt Eberflus before the team's upcoming matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. It turns out the Bears were big fans of Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse, who is off to a great start this season.

Still, Eberflus noted he has been struck by the talent the Rams have on the edges with pass rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young. Verse was a prospect the Bears had high on their predraft radar this spring, a player with impressive strength and burst and a natural feel for finding quarterbacks.

Eberflus also enjoyed the time he spent with Verse during the rookie’s predraft visit to Halas Hall.

“I really like the man,” Eberflus said. “You could tell he’s going to be a good pro and going to have a long career in the NFL. He will be a leader of that group and of his football team.”

Verse would've been a nice consolation if Rome Odunze didn't fall.

It wasn't a secret the Bears needed another pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat. Verse fit their profile. He was powerful, relentless, and athletic. His arrival would've fortified the defensive line. However, Odunze was the type of playmaker who could really help a young quarterback grow. He already proved that last week with 112 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis. It is unlikely they regret their decision in the slightest. Nonetheless, it is fun to see how different things could've been.

Without grabbing Verse, the Bears opted for a different approach. They traded back into the 5th round of the draft for Austin Booker. Then, after failing to nab Matthew Judon in a trade from New England, they opted to trade for Darrell Taylor from Seattle instead. It might not be the long-term solution everybody wanted, but it seems to have done a good enough job. Rome Odunze has a chance to do something special in Chicago. The first is erasing the stink of previous 1st round receivers like Kevin White and David Terrell.

He's already on his way.