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Chicago Bears UDFA signing has an interesting connection already on the roster that should give him a leg up toward securing a roster spot

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated May 5, 2025 2:49 PM ET

Later this week, the Chicago Bears will host their rookie minicamp featuring all eight draft selections, undrafted free agent signings, and the players invited to participate this weekend (either vets or other undrafted rookies).

It's a great opportunity to show out in front of the coaching staff and try to earn a spot on the 90-man roster going into the summer and further turn some heads on the practice field.

And having some familiar faces in the building is always a great thing to have toward building some momentum for your chances of sticking around with a new team.

That's a luxury one new addition to the Bears' roster will have going into the week, but it's still on him to compete for a job on the roster. That player is UDFA long snapper Luke Elkin.

Luke Elkin: long snapper, tackler.

First of the season, fourth solo tackle of his @HawkeyeFootball career. pic.twitter.com/iJdOAwrFYS
— Mitch Fick (@MCFick) October 27, 2024

During free agency, the Bears made their long snapper decision by signing 2024 starter Scott Daly to a one-year deal and letting Patrick Scales hit the market. Scales was with the Bears for eight seasons but missed the entire 2024 season due to a back injury. Daly stepped up in his place, (as did tight end Cole Kmet for one game), and locked in the spot going into the summer.

The addition of Elkin now makes things interesting at the position. Elkin was teammates with Bears' punter Tory Taylor after playing 40 games together at a very high level from 2021-2023 at Iowa. Long snappers and punters have a connected role and having some successful history playing with Taylor gives Elkin a unique opportunity along with a leg up over Daly.

"When I signed, I gave him a call and talked to him and said, 'I guess we're teammates again.' And he was super excited and happy about it," Elkin said via the Appleton Post-Crescent. "At the end of the day, it's going to be something you always dream about, being able to go out and play with a former teammate that's just not another position, but someone in a position that you work with every day. So that's something I'm going to take advantage of as well, because he's been there a full year as well."

Elkin signed a three-year deal with the Bears worth a $2.98 million with a $15,000 signing bonus and $40,000 guaranteed. That's a sizable deal for a long snapper, giving the undrafted rookie another boost for how the team feels about the future at the position.

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After being selected in the fourth-round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Taylor finished his rookie season ranked 15th in yards per punt (47.7) but was third in punts placed inside the 20-yard-line (35). Having some familiarity at long snapper could go a long way in making Taylor more comfortable and improve his numbers in Year 2.

The connection between Taylor and Elkin could also improve the operation in the kicking game as well with Taylor serving as the place holder on PAT attempts, a similar role he held at Iowa, catching snaps from Elkin.

Overall it's a great story and helps bring even more competition to Chicago's special teams unit in 2025.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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