Bears undrafted free agent tracker
MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 01: Keith Randolph Jr. #88 and Jer’Zhan Newton #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini sack Graham Mertz #5 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on October 01, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
Being an undrafted free agent on the Bears doesn't mean what it used to.
On a roster built to win now, there will be fewer opportunities available for the players they sign in the hours after the end of the NFL draft.
"It's gonna be hard to make this team now," general manager Ryan Poles said. "It’s gonna be really hard to make this team."
The Bears struck gold in the undrafted free agent market last year, landing quarterback Tyson Bagent from tiny Shepherd University. He made the Bears as their second-stringer, surprisingly, and went on to win two of his four starts in place of the injured Justin Fields.
Here's a rundown of which undrafted free agents the Bears after their closed out their five-player draft class Saturday afternoon, per sources:
Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed
Howard RB Ian Wheeler
Bowling Green WR Odieu Hiliare
Kentucky TE Brenden Bates
Univ. of British Columbia G/T Theo Benedet
Illinois DT Keith Randolph
James Madison DE Jamree Kromah
UCLA LB Carl Jones
Troy CB Reddick Steward