Bears
Bears WR Rome Odunze is entering the second year of his career after being a first-round pick in 2024. Chicago WRs coach Antwaan Randle El said Odunze is preparing for a “bigger role” and is someone they can “move around” in their offense.
“It’s a bigger role in our offense,” Randle El said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “As you understand the offense, we can put you in different spots. No question, prototypical [X-receiver, split out wide], but he’s a guy that you can move around. I think he’s going to have a big year.”
Odunze believes he can bring “explosive plays” to their offense and understands that they will move the ball around in HC Ben Johnson‘s system.
“I’m just available for whatever comes with it, honestly,” Odunze said. “I want to get the ball as early and as often as I can. As a wide receiver and a playmaker, I feel like I have the ability to make this offense move and have explosive plays. So you know, I want the ball on every play. But I play my role within the offense. Caleb’s a great quarterback who’s going to be versatile with his weapons, as well as Ben and the offensive staff to get the ball around. So of course I want to be that No. 1 guy for him and go kill it, be that duo, but we have a bunch of playmakers on the field that’s going to do a good job this year.”
Veteran WR DJ Moore has been used in the backfield as a running back this preseason. Randle El said they are finding ways to open up the field for Moore.
“We just want to continue to unlock that box and open up even more for him to be able to do that,” Randle El said. “As you see that out there, that’s just him being able to understand the offense. Another guy who’s smart, can understand the plays. As long as he continues to understand it, which we believe he will, he’ll have a much bigger role and continue to be that diverse guy for us.”
Lions
Detroit’s had about as much success in the draft as any one team in recent years, and it’s a big reason they’re one of the top teams in the NFC now. But they’re not immune to misses and GM Brad Holmes moved on from two former third-round picks during preseason roster cuts this year (QB Hendon Hooker and DT Brodric Martin). He said the front office always evaluates its successes and failures, but pointed out they’ve rolled the dice on other similar developmental prospects and been rewarded.
“That’s something that we talked about,” Holmes said via USA Today’s Jeff Risdon. “It’s not that we won’t go for that anymore, I think everyone is case-by-case so it’s not just, ‘Oh, every developmental prospect is in a vacuum.’ But it’s just, I think where we’re at as a roster right now, you’re just more cognizant of it. I think there’s times and windows to strike here and there, but you’re just more aware of it as opposed to when we first started. We just had a lot more room for those guys and had a lot more time. So, I would never say that we would not take a developmental player, but it’s just got to be the right situation.”
Packers
In his introductory press conference, new Cowboys DE Micah Parsons admitted that he didn’t think Dallas would choose to end the tension between the two sides by trading him to another team instead of signing him to a new contract. He called the whole experience “the hardest four months of my life.” But now that he’s got a new deal and a new team, Parsons is ready to put the experience behind him and continue building his career in Green Bay.
“I’m not even going to lie, there is a lot of expectations, and I’d be a fool to not think that there isn’t expectations or there isn’t pressure in the position that I’m stepping into,” Parsons said via NFL Media’s Grant Gordon. “But then again, that’s a blessing in itself, that means that they believe in me that much.”
“I’m very determined,” added Parsons. “I would say these last four months have probably been the hardest four months of my life.”
Parsons said he didn’t have any say in landing with the Packers but he’s certainly not disappointed Green Bay is the team that traded for him.
“I didn’t have any say,” Parsons said. “It was just, I would say I’m pretty lucky because I understand the rich history of the Packers. The fact that they had interest in me and understand they have a pretty tough team already in the NFC. I was pretty much geared up and ready to play them [Week 4] looking for revenge [the 2023 season Divisional Round loss]. Now, I’m on the other side to this rich history and get ready to play for these guys and suit up and play. I’m very excited.”
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