Rome Odunze has been at the center of plenty of noise lately, but the bigger Bears story may be the veteran presence now in the receiver room. Khalif Raymond, who spent four seasons with Ben Johnson in Detroit, is already drawing praise from Odunze for the way he’s helping shape the group.
Odunze made it clear Raymond’s value goes well beyond what shows up in a box score. He pointed to Raymond’s experience in Johnson’s offense, his route detail, his speed, and even the energy he brings day to day.
"He's been great to have, have, Leaf. He's been great for us, you know, as a veteran in the room, just with his insight, being in the Benz offense for many years over there in Detroit.
So, from that side of things, but also just his receiver play, his details, his route running, his stride. I mean, you know, he's quick.
He's quick. You guys seen it today, and get over the top of the defense.
So, he's brought a very positive vibe to the room, very humorous as well, you know, and vibes are up in the room, and also the skill as well with when he's in there."
That kind of familiarity matters. Four seasons with the same coach is a long run in the NFL, and Raymond’s time under Johnson gives him a built-in understanding of how the offense is supposed to function. For a Bears team looking for that bridge between coaching and the receiver room, he fits the bill.
And the impact doesn’t have to be flashy to matter. Raymond may not be the biggest offensive name in the room, but his presence is already being felt by younger receivers like Luther Burden and Zavion Thomas. Thomas is just getting started in the league, and he’s sharing a room with a player who’s been around since Thomas was in grade school.
That’s the kind of veteran influence the Bears have been missing. Raymond might not pile up the loudest numbers, but if the younger receivers absorb what he’s bringing, his value could stretch well beyond his own production.
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