Where Bears Undrafted Rookies Still Have a Chance

Jack Sanborn stands out as a shining example for many players on the Bears training camp roster.

Not only did he make their roster as an undrafted free agent, he wound up being a rookie starter at middle linebacker after weakside linebacker Roquan Smith got shipped to Baltimore and starting middle linebacker Nick Morrow was moved to weakside.

In fact, Sanborn did it so well for six games that he had coach Matt Eberflus standing up to defend his right to be the incumbent at training camp in a starting battle against fifth-round rookie Noah Sewell.

After watching impressive play for a fifth-round rookie during OTAs and minicamp without Sanborn around, Eberflus started no bandwagons. He looked to his starter.

"Jack is a very instinctual player, plays multiple positions for us," Eberflus said. "But Jack will be the starter there going into it and then we'll see what Noah can do to press him."

Sanborn made the roster and then the starting lineup because of opportunity. The trade gave him the starting spot but no one would have called him a lock or the roster last year.

Still, it was apparent he and several other undrafted players would have real shots at making the roster because the Bears had entered a rebuild. They had limited resources to bring in draft picks or veteran free agents.

In short, the Bears roster was fertile ground for undrafted free agent rookies in 2022 with cornerback Jaylon Jones, cornerback Josh Blackwell, linebacker Sterling Weatherford, tight end Jake Tonges and defensive end Kingsley Jonathan all joining Sanborn as undrafted free agent rookies on the opening day roster. All of them except Jonathan were active for the opener with the 49ers in the rain.

While there isn't exactly a 30-foot barrier with a no-admittance sign up around the roster this year, it's quite a different scene when training camp starts. 

GM Ryan Poles has had two drafts and now one free agent session with actual salary cap space to devote to veteran signings.

UNDRAFTED NFL FREE AGENTS WITH BEST ROSTER CHANCES

Here are the spots on the roster where Bears undrafted rookies will find their best opportunities, but in some cases they're miniscule chances compared to what players faced last year and in some cases their chances are much smaller because of undrafted free agents who've established themselves.

6. Cornerback

It's like the line from Dumb and Dumber, "so you're saying there's a chance."

Spots have filled up over the year because of draft picks and because a few undrafted players seized opportunities last year. With Kindle Vildor's starting and even roster spot uncertain, and with undrafted Jaylon Jones now joined in competition by draft picks Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith, it would appear chances are scant an undrafted cornerback could sneak onto the 53-man roster. One way they could is if one showed better ability as a slot cornerback than Blackwell, who was a waiver wire pickup as an undrafted cornerback not wanted by the Eagles for their 53-man roster. This isn't all Blackwell has working his way to fend off challengers. He was the team's leading tackler on special teams last year, so they're going to need to take him out this way, as well. All told, the competition is fierce here and it would take a really special undrafted type to beat someone out on the 53-man. The undrafted cornerbacks are probably a year too late for making this roster.

5. Guard

There are numbers ahead of undrafted prospects like Gabe Houy or Notre Dame's Josh Lugg, but it's not an unclimbable hill. Dieter Eiselen and Ja'Tyre Carter are not polished, proven entitites. They like Carter enough that he was playing with the first team during Nate Davis' absence at OTAs, and Lucas Patrick is the backup guard who also plays center. Squeezing onto the roster at guard would mean beating out Carter, a sixth-rounder, and Eiselen, who has been mostly a practice squad type for three years. A player like second-year center Doug Kramer could figure into the guard mix, as well. He hasn't been a guard but could be given reps there because he is a center and it's easier to keep interior linemen on a roster if they can do more. In fact, because of the lack of credentials by any of the guards after Patrick, it wouldn't be shocking if the Bears picked up an NFL veteran free agent before camp or someone cut by another team at some point during camp. They had Michael Schofield last year and if you go by Pro Football Focus grades, he did an excellent job for someone lightly regarded. Injuries forced him to start five times. The Chicago area native is a free agent now. Just saying.

4. Linebacker

This would heavily depend on them keeping six linebackers for the roster, and that's not guaranteed. DeMarquis Gates and Sterling Weatherford are battling for sixth in line already. Neither showed extraordinary ability for a player at the bottom of the roster but both have head starts on anyone else who has designs on a roster spot because they've been in the scheme for a year. Undrafted players looking for a way into the league, like Micah Baskerville, can take heart in the fact that the Bears have two starting linebackers who were undrafted free agents in Sanborn and T.J. Edwards, and that backup Dylan Cole also was undrafted. That and a dime at one time could get you a cup of coffee, as they said in the old days.

3. Safety

Pedigree favors a challenger here because there is very little  of it after the two starters. Elijah Hicks and Kendall Williamson were both seventh-round picks, barely above undrafted free agents. Hicks had problems in coverage last year, allowing the worst possible NFL passer rating against of 158.3. However, he played strong special teams and that was where he had to play the most last year, and he also seemed to be more in charge in his second off-season of work as he replaced Eddie Jackson while he was rehabbing. So Hicks seemed to grow into his spot. Williamson is the one who would be challenged. Also, it's possible they would keep a fifth safety and the only other experienced players were practice squad types A.J. Colbert and A.J. Thomas. Louisiana's Bralen Trahan and Tulane's Macon Clark are the undrafted safeties getting in line to compete.

2. Tackle

There are players here as backups, but one of them pretty much has had the silent treatment when coaches talk about what they've seen from players. No one is talking about Alex Leatherwood, which isn't a good sign for his longevity as a waiver-wire pickup and former first-round pick of the Raiders. Larry Borom is currently the swing tackle and seems a lock as he's started 17 games in two years, played both left and right tackle and has also lined up at guard—although with much less success.

Still, it couldn't have been a huge confidence booster for Borom when Matt Eberflus was asked about him and it led to this response: "He's a guy that;s in that competition for sure. He's continuing to work on his body in terms of being a little bit quicker, a little bit leaner. This will be a big offseason for him, to be able to work on his movement, jumping to the second level and staying and mirroring in front of people in pass protection. It's going to be a big summer for him."

Thanks for all the support!

There are plenty of undrafted tackle competitors lining up to take a shot at these two: Massive Cincinnati rookie Lorenz Metz (6-9, 316), USC rookie Bobby Haskins and then veteran undrafted player Roy Mbaeteka, the 6-9, 320-pounder African who is in the league on a special NFL program for foreign players. There is also Kellen Diesch, an undrafted "first-year" player who was on the practice squad all last year and knows the offense. He was with the Dolphins in camp last year and this past off-season worked at left tackle with backups ahead of the undrafted rookies. Even Lugg might be considered a tackle, but he also could be a guard.

Metz eventually might be a player who could fit in but it's unlikely initially. He's from Germany and needs some more grooming with fundamentals.

"He’s a smart kid," line coach Chris Morgan said. "He really is going after it. It’s important to him. We’re glad to have him, happy to work with him. He’s doing a good job so far picking it all up.”

1. Defensive End

Until they actually sign an edge rusher, this position is out there waiting for an undrafted player to impress and find a way onto the 53-man roster. One veteran signing will bump this position well down the list, though. The fifth end after DeMarcus Walker, Rasheem Green, Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson now might be former Rams player Terrell Lewis, who is not an insurmountable challenge for an undrafted player. Considering Walker and possibly Green will move inside to tackle in some pass rush situations, the Bears can use another edge. Gipson has shown abilities in three seasons, but it's anyone's guess what they have in Robinson. He produce a sack over the final 16 games and he started seven of the last eight as a rookie. Undrafted D'Anthony Jones gets mentioned on various websites as a potential player for the roster, but not only did he go undrafted, he didn't even get signed as an undrafted player initially. He had to go through a rookie minicamp tryout to win a spot on the 90-man roster. He's also viewed as more of a tackle than an end. Former Vikings fourth-round pick Jalyn Holmes is also in there competing. 

So until, or if, they sign the veteran edge rusher, a player like 6-4, 257-pound Jalen Harris, son of former Bears linebacker Sean Harris, has a real opportunity to impress as an undrafted player.  He might not be the best undrafted Bears rookie but he has the best opportunity.