Odeyingbo was expected to keep blocking schemes honest and take pressure off Sweat but flopped in 2024 when given the opportunity to start, posting a disappointing 13 stops, 18 tackles, 3 sacks on 745 plays after flashing in 2023 (22 stops, 16 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 turnovers on 622 snaps). He suffered an Achilles injury in week nine. The Bears have not yet given up on him, but maybe they should have; he is penciled in as a starter entering camp but could be erased before week one.