Bears To Sign TE Stephen Carlson
The Bears have added to a rather crowded tight ends room today, reportedly signing former Browns tight end Stephen Carlson, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The 26-year-old is set to join the teams after participating in Chicago’s rookie minicamp this weekend.
Carlson came into the league as an undrafted signee out of Princeton in 2019. He failed to make the initial 53-man roster but was retained on the Browns’ practice squad to start the year. At the turn of the month into November, Carlson was signed to the active roster, making his NFL debut, and his first start, two days later. He remained on the active roster for the remainder of the year, making five starts and catching five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Carlson had found his playing time thanks to the long-term injuries of pass-catching tight end David Njoku and Pharaoh Brown, but he found most of his usefulness in blocking and special teams while in Cleveland. In his sophomore season, Carlson would play in every game, including the team’s two playoff contests but only caught one pass for 11 yards. He tore his ACL just before the 2021 season, after which his contract with the Browns expired. He had reportedly fully recovered, working out with the Giants nearly a year ago, but didn’t sign with any teams in the 2022 season.
Luckily, Carlson won’t be asked to try and be Chicago’s premier receiving tight end. That role will likely continue to be held by Cole Kmet, who led the team in all receiving categories last year with 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns. The rest of the tight ends on last year’s roster combined for six catches for 52 yards. The only returners from that group, second-year tight ends Jake Tonges out of Cal and Chase Allen out of Iowa State, failed to record a reception. Former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan will assist Kmet in pass-catching duties after signing with the Bears back in March. The only other tight end on the current roster is the undrafted rookie out of Stony Brook, Damien Caffrey, who caught seven passes for 78 yards in 2022.
It appears that Carlson will add a bit of experience and blocking behind Kmet and Tonyan. None of Tonges, Allen, or Caffrey were prestigious receivers in college or have much NFL experience, so Carlson stands a good chance of entering the year as the team’s TE3. He’ll get his chance to return to the league this summer after not having played in an NFL game since January 2021.
Eight Players Join NFC North, AFC West Teams Via NFL International Player Pathway Program
Established in 2017, the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) program “aims to provide elite athletes from around the world with the opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster.” This year, eight international players joined NFC North and AFC West teams (per the league’s website):
- Bears: OL Roy Mbaeteka, Nigeria
- Lions: TE Patrick Murtagh, Australia
- Packers: DL Kenneth Odumegwu, Nigeria
- Vikings: DL Junior Aho, France
- Broncos: DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, Nigeria
- Chiefs: OL Chukwuebuka Godrick, Nigeria
- Raiders: DL David Ebuka Agoha, Nigeria
- Chargers: DL Basil Chijioke Okoye, Nigeria
The NFC North and AFC West were the two divisions that had yet to participate in the program, and this is the first year that the NFL is opening the program to two divisions. The IPP program allows these teams to carry an additional international player on their practice squads during the regular season.
“To see this hugely talented group of players be allocated to NFL rosters is very exciting, and a testament to the success of the NFL’s global football development programs for international athletes,” said NFL executive Peter O’Reilly. “The International Player Pathway is a critical program in identifying, supporting and enabling athletes from around the world and we look forward to seeing each players’ NFL journey unfold as they become global ambassadors for the sport.”
Per NFL.com, the six Nigerian players participated in Osi Umenyiora‘s The Uprise initiative and were participants in the NFL’s inaugural talent camp in Ghana. Alumni of the IPP program include Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, Commanders defensive end Efe Obada and defensive tackle David Bada, and Raiders fullback Jakob Johnson.
Bears Sign 14 UDFAs
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.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/4/23
After the Panthers got the ball rolling yesterday, a number of teams started signing draft picks to their rookie contracts today. We’ve compiled all of the four-year, later-round signings below:
Baltimore Ravens
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly (fifth round, Stanford)
- OT Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (sixth round, Oregon)
- G Andrew Vorhees (seventh round, USC)
Chicago Bears
- LB Noah Sewell (fifth round, Oregon)
- CB Terell Smith (fifth round, Minnesota)
- DT Travis Bell (seventh round, Kennesaw State)
- S Kendall Williamson (seventh round, Stanford)
Green Bay Packers
- QB Sean Clifford (fifth round, Penn State)
- WR Grant DuBose (seventh round, Charlotte)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Will Mallory (fifth round, Miami)
- RB Evan Hull (fifth round, Northwestern)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Parker Washington (sixth round, Penn State)
New England Patriots
- WR Kayshon Boutte (sixth round, LSU)
New York Jets
- DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (sixth round, LSU)
Philadelphia Eagles
- QB Tanner McKee (sixth round, Stanford)
- DT Moro Ojomo (seventh round, Texas)
San Francisco 49ers
- DE Robert Beal Jr. (fifth round, Georgia)
Seattle Seahawks
- RB Kenny McIntosh (seventh round, Georgia)
2023 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, we will keep track of each team’s haul here:
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 2, No. 38 (from Colts): Matthew Bergeron, T (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 75: Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 113: Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah) (signed)
Round 7, No. 224 (from Raiders): DeMarcco Hellams, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 225: Jovaughn Gwyn, G (South Carolina) (signed)
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1, No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College) (signed)
Round 3, No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB (Clemson) (signed)
Round 4, No. 124: Tavius Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB (Stanford) (signed)
Round 6, No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 7, No. 229 (from Browns): Andrew Vorhees, G (USC) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
Round 1, No. 25 (from Giants through Jaguars): Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah) (signed)
Round 2, No. 59: O’Cyrus Torrence, G (Florida) (signed)
Round 3, No, 91: Dorian Williams, LB (Tulane) (signed)
Round 5, No. 150 (from Commanders): Justin Shorter, WR (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Buccaneers through Jets, Texans, Eagles and Bills): Nick Broeker, G (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 252 (from Buccaneers through Rams): Alex Austin, CB (Oregon State) (signed)
Carolina Panthers
Round 1, No. 1 (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3, No. 80 (from Steelers): D.J. Johnson, DE (Oregon) (signed)
Round 4, No. 114: Chandler Zavala, G (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 145: Jammie Robinson, S (Florida State) (signed)
Chicago Bears
Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami) (signed)
Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1, No. 28: Myles Murphy, DE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 60: DJ Turner, CB (Michigan) (signed)
Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): Jordan Battle, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4, No. 131: Charlie Jones, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 163: Chase Brown, RB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 6, No. 206: Andrei Iosivas, WR (Princeton) (signed)
Round 6, No. 217 (from Chiefs): Brad Robbins, P (Michigan) (signed)
Round 7, No. 246: DJ Ivey, CB (Miami) (signed)
Saints Trade Up For No. 103
The Saints will now be picking first on the third day of the NFL Draft. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that New Orleans has acquired the No. 103 pick from the Bears.
Chicago will be receiving picks No. 115 and No. 165, per Pelissero (on Twitter). As our Team-by-Team 2023 NFL Draft Results show, the Bears will now have five picks today while the Saints will have four selections.
With the pick, the Saints are taking Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri. The Saints still have their five 2022 O-line starters under contract, with starter-turned-swingman James Hurst also still rostered. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated Saldiveri as its No. 116 overall prospect; this selection gibes with that assessment.
While Hurst is a former free agent signing, Saldiveri gives the Saints six homegrown O-linemen drafted in the first four rounds. The Bears will pick up an additional fifth-round pick for moving down.
Bears Obtain No. 56 From Jaguars, Select CB Tyrique Stevenson
The Bears will climb five spots for a cornerback. Dealing Nos. 61 and 136 to the Jaguars in exchange for No. 56, the Bears selected Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson. 
A consensus top-five cornerback in the high school class of 2019, Stevenson transferred to Miami after two years at Georgia. He dealt with a number of injuries throughout his career, including a torn labrum and surgery to shave his collarbone, but he made the most out of the time he did play, earning honorable mention All-ACC in 2021 and third-team All-ACC honors this past season.
Stevenson brings some versatility to the Bears secondary. The staff in Athens transferred him to their STAR position (a linebacker/safety hybrid). The Hurricanes put him right back at his natural position as an outside corner, and he rewarded them with three interceptions and 14 passes defensed over two years in Coral Gables. He brings a long, muscular build matched with rangy speed and agility. He can stray in coverage but excels in press-man, rerouting receivers without drawing penalties.
Stevenson should find some immediate opportunities to contribute in Chicago. Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor, and Jaylon Jones all got the most run of the cornerbacks in the Bears secondary last year. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Johnson was the best of the group, grading out as the 67th-best cornerback in the league. If Stevenson makes a strong showing in camp, he can make a run for a starting job. He should be a strong rotation candidate either way.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/28/23
Today’s lone minor move in advance of the draft’s second night:
Chicago Bears
- Released: DL Gerri Green
Green, 27, was a Colts sixth-rounder in 2019 but his only appearance came with the Bears last season. That came after he bounced around several other teams’ practice squads, and saw him play only four defensive snaps (though it was enough to earn him a futures deal in January). The Mississippi State product will now look to catch on with another team in the post-draft wave of free agency. The Bears elected not to add a rookie to their D-line last night, leading many to expect they will do so on Day 2.
Bears Select OT Darnell Wright At No. 10
The Bears moved back one spot and got their guy. Chicago has used the 10th overall pick on Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Bears intended to select Wright at No. 9 before the Eagles came in with a trade offer.
Chicago picked up a 2024 fourth-rounder in the swap and will check a key box on offense. The Bears pursued Mike McGlinchey but bowed out of those sweepstakes, letting the five-year 49ers right tackle starter sign a monster deal with the Broncos. Now, the Bears moved down a spot and landed a likely early-season starter at the position.
In Wright, the Bears added a 40-game college starter who has experience at both left and right tackle. Wright spent more time on the right side with the Volunteers, starting 27 games at that position. The experienced blocker enjoyed a showcase performance against eventual No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson Jr. last season, and the Bears chose him over Georgia’s Broderick Jones, who entered the draft with similar grades as a prospect.
Coming into the draft with needs along both lines, the Bears opted to address their offensive front first. The team had Jalen Carter available at No. 9, and although pre-draft reports indicated Chicago was comfortable with the Georgia defensive lineman, it does not seem like Ryan Poles‘ team was willing to make a big bet — seeing as it took just a 2024 fourth to send Carter to Philadelphia. The Bears are set to enter Round 2 with some additional needs on their defensive front, but the team is in much better shape regarding the protection of Justin Fields.
The Bears have now added Wright and four-year Titans guard starter Nate Davis up front. Chicago replaced Larry Borom at right tackle last season, plugging in veteran Riley Reiff. The nomadic blocker signed with the Patriots this offseason. If Wright becomes a Day 1 starter, he looks set to join late-round find Braxton Jones as Chicago’s first-string tackles. With 2021 second-rounder Teven Jenkins having shown promise at guard and Cody Whitehair having center experience, the Bears — after Fields took a league-high 55 sacks last season — are positioned to be an improved front in 2023.
Eagles Move Up One Spot For Jalen Carter
The Eagles are moving up one spot. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), Philly has acquired pick No. 9 from the Bears. In exchange, Chicago has acquired pick No. 10 and a 2024 fourth-round pick. With their pick, the Eagles have selected Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. 
Carter entered the offseason as a probable top-three pick and potential No. 1 pick. He was subsequently hit with two misdemeanor chargers stemming from a fatal car accident that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. Carter, who was driving a separate vehicle on that January night, was charged with misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. He avoided jail time via a plea agreement.
Later, Carter’s pro day left scouts less than impressed. The 6-foot-3, 314-pounder reportedly put on weight leading up to Georgia’s pro day and displayed a “less than stellar” performance. Carolina’s trade for the first overall pick ended Carter’s hopes of going No. 1, but it remained to be seen how far down the board he would actually fall.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus ensured Carter only took pre-draft visits with teams set to pick in the top 10, a sign of their view his stock wouldn’t take a considerable hit. Many analysts connected him to Seattle (which picked fifth), but the Seahawks were reportedly torn on assuming the risk associated with such a premium selection. Their decision to go with cornerback Devon Witherspoon allowed the Eagles to move up and acquire Carter.
Carter was a consensus All-American in 2022, once again playing a key role in a Bulldogs national championship. His performance the year before led many to believe he was the most talented member of the team’s vaunted defense (a unit which saw five of its players selected in the first round last year). He followed up on those expectations with three sacks and seven tackles for loss last year.
The Eagles were among the teams to invest in Georgia defenders on Day 1 last draft, adding fellow DT Jordan Davis. He and Carter will now be reunited on a team which won the NFC in 2022 in no small part due to the strength of their front seven. Off-the-field questions will justifiably surround him, but Carter could prove to be an impact player for years to come in Philadelphia.