Robbie Gould believes Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze will be long-term duo for Bears

Even with all the wrong that has happened for the Chicago Bears during the 2024 season, there have been two young bright spots in the team's first round draft selections -- No. 1 pick quarterback Caleb Williams and No. 9 pick receiver Rome Odunze.

Williams, a former Heisman winner at USC, has been tasked with answering a decades-long search for the Bears to find their franchise quarterback. Odunze, who played in the National Championship Game in his final season at the University of Washington, was highly-touted for his great route running, catch ability, and was a very polished wide receiver coming out of college. Drafting Odunze would put him in a wide receiver group that included veteran stars DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.

Looking back with hindsight, many believe the Bears should've focused on their offensive or defensive line with their second first-round selection, but there's no turning back. One former member of the Bears, legendary kicker Robbie Gould believes that the connection between Williams and Odunze will be a long-term stay for the duo in Chicago.

"Here's a guy who's flourishing as a rookie," Gould said of Odunze after his two-touchdown performance in a loss to the 49ers. "I think the future is bright for both Caleb [Williams] and Rome. I think you're seeing a 1-2 combination that could be around here for a long time, it's impressive to see how much they've grown from the first week."

A long-term quarterback-wide receiver duo between Williams and Odunze could potentially be a great thing for the Bears franchise, but if they don't address their need for offensive and defensive line, it'll be all for nothing. They've thrived in moments where the team has continued to fail as a whole, but Williams and Odunze at least present some sort of hope for the future.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Robbie Gould believes Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are long-term duo