WATCH: New Bears teammates Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze greet each other at NFL Draft

Caleb Williams made sure to find Rome Odunze at the NFL Draft after he was selected by the Bears.

The Chicago Bears ushered in a new era on offense Thursday night at the 2024 NFL Draft when they selected quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall and wide receiver Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall. Williams had long been the favorite to be selected by the Bears, but Odunze was not as much of a certainty. It was music to Williams’ ears, though, as the new Bears quarterback couldn’t wait to greet his new teammate while at the draft in Detroit.

Williams snuck up behind Odunze while he was on a laptop, and the two embraced in a hug before firing each other up. “LeBron, D-Wade,” Williams said excitedly. “I’m ready, baby.”

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The two were opponents the last two years when they were at USC and Washington, respectively, but got to know one another during their time in the PAC-12. They were seen dapping each other up at the NFL Combine and made some news earlier this week when they were on the same flight to Detroit. It’s safe to say they will happily share a flight to Chicago when both are introduced as Bears on Friday.

WATCH: Darnell Wright gets the call from the Bears

Here’s the moment Darnell Wright got the call from Ryan Poles letting him know he’s going to be a Chicago Bear.

The Chicago Bears made Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright the inaugural first-round pick of general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure on Thursday evening. The Bears selected the physical offensive lineman with the No. 10 pick, trading down one spot from the No. 9 pick with the Philadelphia Eagles while gaining a 2024 fourth-round pick.

Wright had worked his whole career to get that phone call and here’s how everyone reacted when the moment finally came.

Poles was the first one to make the call and referenced a conversation they had while going through a private workout. “Do you remember what we talked about when we came down there and worked you out?” Poles asked the 21-year old. Wright knew exactly what he was talking about. “Be one of the best,” he responded. Poles then told Wright he’s going to be a Chicago Bear.

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Wright also took calls from head coach Matt Eberflus, team president and CEO Kevin Warren, and offensive line coach Chris Morgan. He told Eberflus he was “a little bit in shock” to receive the call, while he was fired up when he talked with Morgan, his new position coach.

Seeing and hearing players react to the news that their dream of playing in the NFL is finally a reality is one of the highlights of the draft. Each call is special for both the player and the team and Wright sounds motivated to get to work and help bring winning football back to Chicago.

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Ryan Poles reveals Bears had another trade offer for No. 9 pick

The Bears moved down one spot to draft Darnell Wright but mulled another offer to move down even further, according to Ryan Poles.

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone and the Chicago Bears have their newest player, selecting Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright. The Bears moved down one spot from No. 9 to No. 10 to pick Wright, swapping picks with the Philadelphia Eagles while gaining a 2024 fourth-round pick. It was a trade that made sense but according to general manager Ryan Poles, that wasn’t the only offer they mulled over.

Poles spoke with reporters following the selection of Wright and revealed the Bears had another offer for the No. 9 pick that would have dropped them lower in the draft order. “There was another team, it didn’t get too heated up and it was in a spot where I had a really good sense that Darnell would be at risk to be gone,” Poles said when asked about any other offers.

The other team in question may have been eyeing Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, whom the Eagles wound up taking at No. 9. Poles didn’t want to risk losing his top target though and still wound up with additional draft capital for the future.

The NFL Draft will resume on Friday evening beginning at 6 pm CT, with the Bears holding picks 53 and 61 in the second round and pick 64 in the third round.

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2021 NFL Draft: First Round Analysis Of Every Pick, From The College Perspective

2021 NFL Draft: First round breakdown and analysis of every pick, from the college perspective.

2021 NFL Draft: First round breakdown and analysis of every pick, from the college perspective.


2021 NFL Draft: First Round Analysis

Welcome to my self-serving, pretentious stream-of-consciousness notes for the first round of your 2021 NFL Draft, commenting during and after each and every pick.

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Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews | @PeteFiutak

CFN 2021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
from the college perspective …
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG & C
DE & Edge | DT | LB | CB | Safeties
Top 105 2021 NFL Draft Prospects
First Round Pick Breakdown & Thoughts
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

2021 NFL Draft: Pre-Draft

The whole 2021 NFL draft thing was hijacked by Aaron Rodgers. Apparently he wants to get paid a whole lot more for a whole lot longer, he’s throwing a fit, and now he wants out of Green Bay … for now. So for every team other than Jacksonville that’s looking to draft a top quarterback prospect, the game has just changed.

How hilarious would it be if the Packers traded Rodgers and then FINALLY took a wide receiver in the first round?

Rodgers probably isn’t going anywhere, but you’re not doing your job if you’re the Jets, Niners, Lions, Panthers, Giants, Eagles, Vikings, Patriots, Raiders, Football Team, Bears, Titans, Steelers, Saints, and yeah, Packers, if you’re not seeing what it might take to get the reigning MVP – besides the $150 million for 4 years.

By the way, to everyone on social media trying to get San Francisco to trade the third overall pick to right the wrong of 2005, here’s your fun fact of fun facts – no quarterback selected with the third overall pick has ever won a Super Bowl. The Niners are going to take Mac Jones (probably). They’re not getting Rodgers.

Meanwhile, from the Department of Fine, Whatever … Tim Tebow might play tight end for Jacksonville. Fine. Whatever.

This whole NFL Draft thing should be held in a bar.

Okay, draft stuff. Before this all gets started, I believe 1) Justin Fields sliding will be the big story. 2) It doesn’t matter. Eight of the top nine passers in 2020 were selected after the 5, and 3) Elway, Aikman, Manning, Manning. Those are the only QBs taken in the top nine since 1983 who won a Super Bowl for the team that drafted them or traded for the pick.

It’s this simple. If you’re good, you’ll play. If you’re not, you won’t. Don’t get into a twist about draft position.

Let’s have some fun. Welcome to the 2021 NFL Draft.

1. Jacksonville

CFN Best Available Player: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

2. New York Jets

3. San Francisco (from Miami from Houston)

4. Atlanta

5. Cincinnati

6. Miami (from Philadelphia)

7. Detroit

8. Carolina

9. Denver

10. Dallas

11. New York Giants

12. Philadelphia (from Miami from San Francisco)

13. Los Angeles Chargers

14. Minnesota

15. New England

16. Arizona

17. Las Vegas

18. Miami

19. Washington

20. Chicago

21. Indianapolis

22. Tennessee

23. New York Jets (from Seattle)

24. Pittsburgh

25. Jacksonville (from LA Rams)

26. Cleveland

27. Baltimore

28. New Orleans

29. Green Bay

30. Buffalo

31. Kansas City

32. Tampa Bay

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CFN 2021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
from the college perspective …
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG & C
DE & Edge | DT | LB | CB | Safeties
Top 105 2021 NFL Draft Prospects

2020 NFL Draft: First Round Breakdown Of Every Pick, From The College Perspective

2020 NFL Draft: First Round Breakdown Of Every Pick, From The College Perspective

2020 NFL Draft: First Round Breakdown Of Every Pick, From The College Perspective


CFN in 60 Podcast: 5 NFL Draft Predictions
Pete Fiutak makes his five big calls for the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews | @PeteFiutak

CFN 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
from the college perspective …
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG & C
DE | DT | LB | CB | Safeties
Full 2020 NFL Draft Order
CFN Top 106 Player Rankings (1st 3 rounds)
2021 NFL Draft Top 32 Prospects
First Round Pick Breakdown & Thoughts
2019 | 2018 | 2017

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Welcome to my self-serving, pretentious stream-of-consciousness notes for the first round of your 2020 NFL Draft, commenting during and after each and every pick.


CFN in 60 Video: 5 NFL Draft Predictions …
Unmute the player to listen
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2020 NFL Draft: Predraft

To be totally honest, I couldn’t be happier with how this 2020 NFL Draft is being set up. I really, really, really had no interest in the whole Vegas-style thing with the Sam Rothstein Dancers introducing every pick. If there’s never a Red Carpet ever again associated with sports, that would be a good thing.

– What are you doing on my lawn? And yes, I do believe that NFL Drafts should be run 1972 style in the Essex House in New York City, with a bunch of pudgy chain-smoking old guys making woefully under-researched picks.

– Just wait … there are going to be more people out there like me who’s going to like what they’re doing tonight more than the new thing with all the screamy fans and the unnecessary hoo-ha.

– Sorry. I’ll under the 2020 world now. I do think this will be a whole lot smoother than everyone is making it out to be.

– Show Roger Goodell’s basement dungeon and torture room. I was expecting his basement to be more tricked out. At the very least, I was expecting a Peloton that looks like it’s never been used.

After firing DirecTV and going the YouTubeTV route, this is my first NFL Draft in a long, long time without “The Network.” It’s the one glaring hole in the YouTubeTV resumé.

– Don’t try to make this something it’s not.  There’s no need to mess around with any glitz. The Jennifer Hudson thing was fine. It satisfied the checked the NFL’s “let’s try to do something someone might potentially find inspirational” box.

– And here we go … I’d like to wish you all good luck. We’re all counting on you.

1. Cincinnati

CFN Best Available Player:  DE Chase Young, Ohio State
PICK:  COMING


2. Washington

PICK:  COMING


3. Detroit

PICK:  COMING


4. NY Giants

PICK:  COMING


5. Miami

PICK:  COMING


6. LA Chargers

PICK:  COMING


7. Carolina

PICK:  COMING


8. Arizona

PICK:  COMING


9. Jacksonville

PICK:  COMING


10. Cleveland

PICK:  COMING


11. NY Jets

PICK:  COMING


12. Las Vegas

PICK:  COMING


13. San Francisco (from Indianapolis)

PICK:  COMING


14. Tampa Bay

PICK:  COMING


15. Denver

PICK:  COMING


16. Atlanta

PICK:  COMING


17. Dallas

PICK:  COMING


18. Miami (from Pittsburgh)

PICK:  COMING


19. Las Vegas (from Chicago)

PICK:  COMING


20. Jacksonville (from LA Rams)

PICK:  COMING


21. Philadelphia

PICK:  COMING


22. Minnesota (from Buffalo)

PICK:  COMING


23. New England

PICK:  COMING


24. New Orleans

PICK:  COMING


25. Minnesota

PICK:  COMING


26. Miami (from Houston)

PICK:  COMING


27. Seattle

PICK:  COMING


28. Baltimore

PICK:  COMING


29. Tennessee

PICK:  COMING


30. Green Bay

PICK:  COMING


31. San Francisco

PICK:  COMING


32. Kansas City

PICK:  COMING


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