Tag: zgamb1

Instant 2024 NFL Draft grades: Indianapolis Colts select Laitu Latu, EDGE, UCLA 15th overall

Instant 2024 NFL Draft grades: Indianapolis Colts select Laitu Latu, EDGE, UCLA 15th overall

With heaps of offensive players going off the board with the first fourteen picks the Indianapolis Colts are able to snag the best defensive player in the draft with UCLA edge rusher Laitu Latu.

Latu projects to immediately anchor the edge for a talented Colts’ defensive line and bring a much lacking pressure from the outside to this underrated defensive unit.

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Though medical issues have held him back Latu still possesses some of the best talent at his position in this entire class. With a relentless nature, excellent hand usage, and a deep pass rushing tool box, Latu is a steal almost half way through the draft.

Grade: A+

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky talks why Jayden Daniels was the top QB in the draft

Dan Orlovsky explains why he thought Daniels was the top quarterback.

Some believed LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was the top quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. You can count ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky among those.

As expected, the Chicago Bears chose USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the No. 1 pick overall, followed by the Washington Commanders, who chose Daniels.

Orlovsky explained what he liked most about Daniels.

“The reason why, since I started the process that Jayden was the best quarterback, were two things,” Orlovsky began. “I thought he had the fastest eyes, and I thought that, when you’re covered in college it’s open in the NFL, it’s the best ball placement.

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Orlovsky then shows a play that explains everything he loves about Daniels, which includes elite processing.

Daniels comes to Washington as an immediate top contender, along with Williams, for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

 

Highlights of new Bears WR Rome Odunze

The Bears added to their explosive receivers room with Rome Odunze. Here’s a glimpse at what Chicago is getting in the No. 9 pick:

There was a lot of speculation about what the Chicago Bears would do with the ninth overall pick. While all the top defensive players and talented offensive tackles, they couldn’t pass up wide receiver Rome Odunze.

Odunze was incredible during his college career at Washington. He had over 1,100 yards in both 2022 and 2023. Last year, Odunze totaled more than 1,600 yards as Washington made it to the College Football Playoff. He has some great high-pressure experience as a result along with all of these great stats. It is a home run of a pick.

This is a wide receiver that can be explosive and he can go up and catch a football. With DJ Moore and Keenan Allen already in place, this is going to be an incredible receiver room. It could be both the best in the NFL and the best in Bears history.

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The Bears selected Odunze’s friend Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick to kick off the night. Now, they get to come to Chicago together to start their careers in the NFL. These highlights are what Bears fans have to look forward to from Odunze:

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Highlights of new Bears QB Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams is officially a Bear. Here’s a glimpse at what Chicago is getting in the No. 1 pick.

The Chicago Bears have officially selected quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He was brought to Chicago to turn this franchise around. If he succeeds, he will be a legend in this town for a very long time.

General manager Ryan Poles got his guy. He moved off of Justin Fields, which couldn’t have been a fun decision, but he felt it had to be done. Poles has shown that winning football games is the most important thing to him. Now, Williams holds the keys to Poles’ legacy.

During his time at USC, Williams was an incredible player. He won a Heisman Trophy in 2022 and had a ton of success, which is the reason he is the No. 1 overall pick. Williams is now looking to translate that success to his NFL career, He has all of the tools needed to do well — along with an ideal situation in Chicago.

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Williams’ play at USC had a lot of flare to it. He made big plays using his legs and arms. As productive as he was, he was also as entertaining as any player in the country. These are some of his best highlights:

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Caleb Williams hype video: Welcome to the Chicago Bears

The Caleb Williams era is officially underway with the Bears. Here’s a hype video to get you even more excited:

The Caleb Williams era is officially underway in Chicago.

The Bears selected the former Heisman Trophy winner with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, a move that’s been expected for weeks.

Williams is coming into one of the best situations, perhaps ever, for a No. 1 quarterback. He’s got an arsenal of weapons (including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and fellow rookie Rome Odunze), an improved offensive line, a potential top-five defense and a quarterback-friendly offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron.

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There’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to what Williams can bring to this offense, even as a rookie. He’s got elite arm talent, mobility, leadership and creativity that make him a home-run addition for Chicago.

This hype video from Da Windy City Productions encapsulates it best:

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Caleb Williams reacts to the Bears drafting WR Rome Odunze

Caleb Williams couldn’t contain his excitement when he saw the Bears select Rome Odunze.

New Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams didn’t have to wait long to see who his new teammate would be—and he was pretty darn happy about it. The Bears selected wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick, giving Williams a new weapon to utilize in a suddenly stacked offense. After seeing the two develop a friendship over the last few months during the pre-draft process, it should come as no surprise to see Williams’ reaction to the selection.

Williams couldn’t contain his excitement backstage when he saw Odunze’s name pop up. “I would have spiked this water if we didn’t have cameras,” he said. “We got our guy,” he said while smiling. It’s pretty clear he’s thrilled about the new addition.

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Williams and Odunze 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. The two 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. They also worked out with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. Now, all four are teammates on the Bears.

Instant analysis of Bears selection of WR Rome Odunze

The Bears paired QB Caleb Williams with WR Rome Odunze at No. 9. Here’s our instant reaction.

The Chicago Bears paired new quarterback Caleb Williams with a playmaking wide receiver in Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Bears have found a perfect fit for Shane Waldron’s offense in Odunze, a talented wide receiver from the University of Washington. At 6’3″ and 212 pounds, Odunze possesses the size, strength, and athleticism to become a dominant force in the NFL.

Odunze’s physicality and ability to win contested catches make him an ideal target in the red zone and on third downs. His strong hands and body allow him to make difficult catches in traffic, providing a reliable option for the quarterback when the play breaks down. Odunze’s size also makes him an effective blocker in the running game, which is crucial in Waldron’s scheme, which relies heavily on the outside run.

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In addition to his physical attributes, Odunze’s route-running ability and football IQ are intriguing. He has a good understanding of how to leverage his routes and find soft spots in zone coverage, which will be valuable in the Bears’ play-action passing game. The Washington wide receiver can read defenses and adjust on the fly, which will help Caleb Williams.

Overall, the Bears have found a talented and versatile wide receiver in Odunze, who fits perfectly into Waldron’s offense. His size, physicality, route-running ability, and football IQ make him a great addition to the Bears’ receiving corps, and he has the potential to become a long-term starter and future WR1 on the team.

Indianapolis Colts select 1st defensive player of the round with EDGE Laiatu Latu

It took half of the first round before a defensive player was selected.

We were nearly halfway through the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and we finally had the first defensive player selected. But maybe not the one you expected. The Indianapolis Colts used the No. 15 overall pick to select former UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu.

The biggest thing that kept pundits from ranking Latu higher is the serious neck injury he suffered when he played at Washington. At the time he was advised to medically retire but instead he transferred and turned his fortunes around.

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As long as he stays healthy, the Colts have themselves a dynamic and productive edge rusher who can play standing up and drop into coverage. Latu going here also means other teams in the back half of the first round who need help on the edge will have an option to select Alabama’s Dallas Turner who we consider a better and safer pick.

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Grading the Bears’ selection of WR Rome Odunze

The Bears added to their explosive WR room with Rome Odunze at ninth overall. Here’s how we graded the pick.

Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze made headlines when they took a photo together following their flight to Detroit, fueling speculation that the Chicago Bears might look to pair the two offensive juggernauts.

That speculation turned out to have some merit, as the Bears selected Odunze with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, ensuring the pair will share a return flight to Chicago.

Odunze will join Keenan Allen and DJ Moore in the wide receiver room, creating what is certainly one of the most dangerous pass-catching trios in the NFL.

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Chicago opted to go with the flashier pick in Odunze rather than upgrade positions that are more volatile, such as pass rusher or the offensive line. The Bears clearly approached the first round with the mentality of helping Williams find immediate success, pairing him with the physically gifted Odunze.

Chicago had more pressing needs that could have remedied with the ninth pick, but more firepower in the pass game is certainly welcome, especially for a franchise that has historically neglected skill positions on offense.

Grade: B

Instant analysis of Bears selection of QB Caleb Williams

The Bears officially made Caleb Williams the first overall pick. Here’s our instant reaction.

The Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

As expected, the Bears have secured the franchise quarterback poised to become the face of the team and bring a dynamic presence to the Bears locker room.

Caleb Williams is a player with a skill set that perfectly aligns with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s vision. Williams brings an impressive combination of precision passing – especially off-platform, the agility to evade defenders, and a fiery competitive spirit.

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Williams will be the starting quarterback right out of the gate, and the Bears have already equipped him with the necessary support to excel. This isn’t just a draft pick; it’s a statement.

The Bears are building, and Caleb Williams is expected to be the cornerstone of GM Ryan Poles’ vision. The world waits to see how soon Williams will be able to shift Chicago’s fortune and reassert the Bears as a dominant force in the league.