Less than 24 hours remain for the highly-anticipated NFL Draft 2024 in Detroit. With the Chicago Bears holding the first overall pick, their decision to draft USC Caleb Williams is almost as certain as it could get. But the Bears also have the 9th overall pick to their advantage and GM Ryan Poles will have to make a wise decision about whether their team needs a wide receiver, an offensive lineman, or a linebacker. 

If it were up to Caleb Williams to decide who he thinks would be the best complement for his NFL plays, the answer might shock you. After all, the Bears already have WR Rome Odunze as their 9th pick in USA Today’s latest mock draft. And even the Washington receiver has dropped his desire to play for the Bears at Soldier Field. So let’s see what the Bears’ projected No. 1 pick has to say about it. 

Caleb Williams chooses Olu Fashanu over Rome Odunze for the Bears 9th overall pick

Going back to high school records, Caleb Williams may not be the only first-round pick coming from Gonzaga College, Washington. He’ll be joined by potential first-round prospect Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu with whom he played two seasons together in high school. He told the media, “If I was able to choose… I’d probably go Olu Fashanu because I know he’d put his life on the line for me, protecting me… And then one of the top 3 WRs.” 

Olu Fashanu is a 6’6, 312-pounder who won the 2023 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. While they didn’t play together in college, their chemistry was forged during Gonzaga’s 2018 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship where they faced top-seeded St. John. Despite being a starting left tackle that season and suffering an injury, Fashanu earned a strong reputation as he kicked the pass rush out wide to give Williams enough space to secure the winning move to win 46-43.

Gonzaga’s AD Terry Kernan said, “To have this No. 1 pick and another first-round pick, who played together, who are friends… It would be incredible.” And what would be more incredible is if they land on the same team once more. But what about Rome Odunze? Putting Fashanu in front of the Bears’ potential top 9 pick Ozunde is a tough pill to swallow.

Is Rome Odunze the Bears’ potential 9th pick? 

As per a report by Tom Pelissero, “Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze didn’t just take the same flight to Detroit for the draft: I’m told Odunze recently caught balls from Williams… who was also throwing with Bears WRs Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore.” Odunze met with the Bears as part of his top-30 visit and has expressed satisfaction with the meeting. He also expressed his desire to play for the Bears during his interview on The Rich Eisen Show. 

When Odunze was asked if he could be leaving together with Williams after the draft, he said, “Definitely. He’s trying to have a great receiving core.” He also recently told the Chicago Sun-Times about joining the Bears, “It would be explosive. Honestly, there’s a lot of weapons on the field in that offense.” Now that Fashanu is in the picture, it will remain a mystery until the big reveal in the next few hours.