Editor’s note: The Bears kickoff the season on Sunday, September 8 at noon vs. the Titans. Tune in to the Marquee Sports Network App immediately after the game for The Official Bears Postgame Live presented by United Airlines. For more information on how to watch, click here: https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/shows/bearspostgame/.

Quarterback Caleb Williams will start and help captain the Bears during the 2024 season, assuming roles anticipated from the moment he was drafted No. 1 overall. We’ve talked a ton about expectations for the young, yet super-talented signal caller, but he’s not the only rookie expected to contribute significantly this season.

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That said, the list of Bears rookies isn’t long. There are only five on the 53-man roster – there’s only one on defense — a low sum due to a strong Bears depth chart full of established players.

So let’s turn focus away from Williams for a second and discuss realistic expectations for other rookies on the roster.

WR Rome Odunze

The University of Washington product and No. 9 overall pick is a smooth and smart receiver who reached the Bears with plenty of polish. He has looked capable of big things this preseason while developing a strong chemistry with Williams. He already ranks among the top three receivers and might end up a regular in two receiver sets over time.

Odunze transitioning well to the league will be key for the Bears overall. Rookie seasons are notoriously tough on receivers – there’s a lot mentally going on at that position – but we’ve seen several recent examples of NFL newbies making a major impact. Odunze is certainlty capable of that.

Williams’ presence has taken the spotlight from Odunze, who would normally be living in it as a top-10 pick. Having DJ Moore and Keenan Allen around as counselors in the meeting room and attention stealers on the field will also help Odunze find his way. While they may limit Odunze’s reception count – there are so many skill players on the team and just one ball – it’s fair to expect he’ll have an efficient and productive rookie year.

OL Kiran Amegadie

It’s tough to predict the contributions of a third-round pick who recently started practicing as a professional. He’s working his way back from an injury suffered at Yale, so patience must be exercised during the NFL onboarding process. The Bears can afford to do that, with Matt Pryor capable of playing swing tackle with Larry Borom on injured reserve with a designation to return.

A few weeks isn’t much time to get going, so it’s possible he’s inactive in early-season games. He could continue to develop and move up the depth chart as the season rolls on, but the Bears can (currently) afford to be patient. Amegadie has tons of talent at the tackle spot. Developing it will be key has he starts his professional journey.

P Tory Taylor

Punters drafted in the fourth-round don’t sit. Though warranting such a high pick as a specialist means they’re probably ready to go right away. Taylor has already shown quality in his craft and that he’s someone who can be used as a weapon that pins opponents back. He has several techniques and spins he can put on the ball to make it hard for opponents to field and return his volleys.

He’ll be an asset for the Bears, a luxury pick that GM Ryan Poles could make given the depth of his roster heading into the NFL draft. That should pay off all season if Taylor is as productive as he’s expected to be.

DE Austin Booker

Expectations placed on fifth-round picks are generally low, but a solid preseason featuring nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and two more tackles for a loss raised them some. That, and some Hard Knocks airtime, has put Booker on the map. How he’ll fare and how much he’ll play remains a mystery. We’re still waiting to see how the defensive-end rotation works out, so that information might provide some insight into how many opportunities Booker will get.

The University of Kansas product had a solid preseason overall and could be an asset on obvious passing downs, when see-quarterback-get-quarterback is the only job responsibility. Offensive linemen generally play all three downs during the regular season, and facing NFL starters will be a lot harder that the competition faced working with the lower units in practice and exhibition games. That’s why expectations should be fairly low at this stage. Getting veteran level production (for a reserve) should be counted as a pleasant surprise.