It took a while before Rome Odunze signed his rookie-scale contract with the Chicago Bears. But after months of negotiations between the Bears and his camp, the former Washington Huskie agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $22.7 million deal. The contract includes a $13.3 million signing bonus, which will be prorated throughout the deal’s duration.
Odunze will earn the following base salaries throughout his rookie contract: $795,000 (2024), $960,000 (2025), $1,075,000 (2026), and $1,190,000 (2027). He will also get the following roster bonuses: $867,932 (2025), $1,785,864 (2026), and $2,703,796 (2027).
Meanwhile, his cap hit ranges from $4.1 million in 2024 to $7.2 million in 2027. The Bears have a fifth-year option on Odunze because he is a first-round selection. Luck must have been on the Bears’ side when they landed Odunze eight picks after making Caleb Williams the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The two-time First-Team All-Pac-12 member was the third wideout taken in the draft after Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.
Officially official. pic.twitter.com/vbLms2tKlb
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 16, 2024
Odunze earned a Consensus All-American nod in 2023 after compiling 81 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added a rushing touchdown and a kick return touchdown in his final season with the Huskies.
While his partnership with Williams is enough to excite Bears fans for the team’s future, they can compete now after adding D’Andre Swift and Keenan Allen.
-Lance Fernandez