Ian Bunting

Bears Sign 22 UDFAs

By Andrew Ortenberg | at May 3, 2019 9:02 am

The Bears have quite a big UDFA class. Chicago announced that they have signed the following 22 undrafted free agents:

• Alex Bars, OL (Notre Dame) ($35K of his base salary guaranteed, $5K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter)
• Sam Mustipher, OL (Notre Dame)
• Daryle Banfield, DL (Brown)
• John Baron II, K (San Diego State)
• Matt Betts, LB (Laval)
• Blake Blackmar, OL (Baylor)
• Ian Bunting, TE (California)
• Jomon Dotson, DB (Nevada)
• Clifton Duck, DB (Appalachian State)
• Emanuel Hall, WR (Missouri)
• Jonathan Harris, DL (Lindenwood)
• Chuck Harris, LB (Buffalo)
• Thomas Ives, WR (Colgate)
• Doyin Jibowu, DB (Fort Hays State)
• Joe Lowery, OL (Ohio)
• Lawrence Marshall, DE (Michigan)
• Adarius Pickett, DB (UCLA)
• Dax Raymond, TE (Utah State) ($30K of his base salary guaranteed with a $15K signing bonus, per Wilson on Twitter)
• Ellis Richardson, TE (Georgia Southern)
• Josh Simmons, DB (Limestone)
• Marquez Tucker, OL (Southern Utah)
• John Wirtel, LS (Kansas)

The Bears opted for a lot of small school players, adding guys from places like Limestone, Colgate, Fort Hays State, Lindenwood, and Laval. The signings of Bars and Mustipher are notable because they have a connection to the coaching staff. Both players were coached by current Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand when they were at Notre Dame. The Bears hired Hiestand away from Notre Dame before last season, and he knows what he’s getting in these two players.

It’s also notable that the Bears signed a kicker, because the job will be up for grabs in training camp. Chicago is looking to replace Cody Parkey after his disastrous 2018 season, and they need someone consistent. Baron was a solid college kicker at SDSU with a big leg, as his career long was 54 yards, which is pretty impressive for a college kicker. The Bears already have former AAF kicker Elliott Fry and former Tulsa kicker Redford Jones on the roster, so they’re clearly planning on having a battle royale kicking competition this offseason.