After adding 10 rookies via the draft, the Bears have added another 14 first-year players via free agency. The Bears announced that they have signed 14 undrafted free agents:
- OL Nick Amoah (UC Davis)
- QB Tyson Bagent (Shepherd)
- LB Micah Baskerville (LSU)
- DB Justin Broiles (Oklahoma)
- FB Robert Burns (Connecticut)
- TE Damien Caffrey (Stony Brook)
- DB Macon Clark (Tulane)
- WR Aron Cruickshank (Rutgers)
- DL Jalen Harris (Arizona)
- OL Bobby Haskins (USC)
- OL Gabriel Houy (Pitt)
- OL Lorenz Metz (Cincinnati)
- WR Thyrick Pitts (Delaware)
- K Andre Szmyt (Syracuse)
Tyson Bagent had a prolific career at Shepherd, tossing 159 touchdowns in 53 games. The 6-foot-3 prospect has the size of a typical NFL quarterback, but his questionable decision-making and arm strength (coupled with his Division II status) led to him going undrafted. Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy got a closeup view of Bagent during the Senior Bowl.
Andre Szmyt left Syracuse as the school’s all-time leader in scoring. He converted 81 percent of his field goal attempts in college and 91 percent of his kicks from within 40 yards. Cairo Santos has connected on 89.7 percent of his FGAs over the past three seasons with the Bears, but the rookie should provide the veteran with a bit of competition in training camp.
Jalen Harris is the son of former Bears draft pick Sean Harris. The defensive lineman compiled 171 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks in 56 games at Arizona before going undrafted last weekend. The rookie can find a role for himself as an edge on the Bears, with DeMarcus Walker, Rasheem Green, Trevis Gipson, and Dominique Robinson providing competition for the roster spots.
Baskerville is sneaky good just like Sanborn was last year. Good chance to make the team. Szmyt decent shot at beating out Cairos, Otherwise great Practice squad candidate. Harris just has to be better than Robinson or Gipson which is certainly possible. Still say the Bears might make a run at Ngouake or Clark still. Either would be an improvement as situational pass rushers.
There’s always those fans that are delusional about rookie UDFA’s….this is one of them!!
And there’s always those fans who comment for no other reason but to criticize someone trying to make a positive contribution to the forum.
Jack Sanborn went undrafted last year and ended up as an effective starter for the Bears. Is that delusional?
You mean Jack Urlacher*
Uncle Mike is right about Baskerville. He kind of got lost in LSU’s schemes his last 2 years, in that he wasn’t flashy but effective. That said, his last 2 DCs were ex-pro coaches, and their schemes were more pro-like than college. He’s a special team candidate for sure, and athletic enough to play in the NFL. It’s on him now, however, to catch the Bears staff eyes.
I actually said the same thing about Sanborn last year at this time and he proved me right. So there’s that. And I said the same thing about Kramer but he got injured unfortunately but he was drafted.
I feel like just thinking positionally, Harris has to have a real shot at making the squad, I’m shocked more UDFA DE’s didn’t have the Bears as their top squad to sign with considering the emptiness of the depth chart beyond Walker, Baskerville and Broiles seem like smart depth for the organization, came from real programs and played well enough to be a practice squad emergency guy, I hope Szmyt beats out Santos and is awesome, would be great getting a local Kicker haha