The Bears are heading into 2026 with a receiver duo that has plenty of buzz, but not everyone is ready to crown Rome Odunze and Luther Burden just yet.
That hesitation showed up in FanSided’s Sayre Bedinger’s ranking of the top eight wide receivers in the NFC North, where both Chicago pass catchers landed near the bottom of the list. Odunze checked in at No. 7 and Burden came in at No. 8, a placement that stands out in a division stacked with proven production.
At the top of Bedinger’s rankings were Justin Jefferson of the Vikings and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Lions, followed by Jameson Williams, Jordan Addison, Jayden Reed and Christian Watson before the Bears duo appeared.
Odunze’s spot is the one that feels most surprising, especially with two Packers receivers slotting ahead of him despite not having done much in the NFL since joining Green Bay. Bedinger’s concern centered on the connection between Odunze and quarterback Caleb Williams, noting that the chemistry many expected still hasn’t fully taken shape. One stat cited in support of that point: Williams has an 82.3 QB rating when targeting Odunze over the last two years.
Burden’s ranking is easier to understand. The excitement around him is real, but the league still wants to see it translate from hype to production.
The buzz is there. The proof, at least for now, is still coming.
Chicago’s offseason move involving DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills was a clear signal that the Bears are all-in on Odunze and Burden as the team’s top two receivers. Odunze brings polished route running and is improving his hands, while Burden offers the kind of speed that can stress corners on deep balls.
Both receivers still have plenty of room to grow, and that matters because they’re young. Odunze and Burden are expected to keep improving, and after what was shown last year, that’s an unsettling thought for the rest of the NFC North.
So while the rankings have them sitting seventh and eighth right now, Bears fans probably won’t need much convincing that the next time this list comes around, both names could be climbing fast.
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