Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SS Sam Carter, TCU (6’1 | 215 | 4.68)
Good size for a safety. Carter used that size well to be a force against the opposing running games as a strong safety and hybrid linebacker in sub packages. He’s not a big hitter, but rarely misses tackles. Carter has very sound football instincts, diagnosing plays quickly and correctly which allows Carter to play a little faster than his slow 40-time. He has good ball skills with 13 interceptions over the last three years, times his blitzes well, and was a team captain for the Horned Frogs. He fits DC Vic Fangio’s prototype for safety with the size to play in the box and decent coverage ability as well. Carter would have been drafted based on his production but his lack of straight line speed and somewhat stiff hips in coverage likely knocked him out of the draft. He will have to excel on special teams as a rookie to make the Bears opening week roster, but his instincts and ball skills are good enough that he could eventually see some snaps on defense for the Bears.
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RB Joe Bergeron, Texas A&M-Commerce (6’1 | 230 | 4.73)
Former 5-star recruit by the Texas Longhorns who burst on the scene as a freshman with 327 yards (7.8 ypc) and 5 TDs in his first two starts, but never matched that elite production again. Bergeron was very effective his sophomore year as a short-yardage / goal-line back with 16 TDs on the season, but lost his job as a junior before being kicked off the team for undisclosed violations. Despite his disappointing career with the Longhorns, Bergeron still averaged 5.1 ypc and scored 25 TDs.
After being booted from Texas, Bergeron transferred to Texas A&M Commerce where he gained 1,157 total yards (5.8 ypc) and scored 14 TDs in 2014. He was considered a borderline draftable RB before a sluggish pro day and 4.73 forty-time, which was over a tenth slower than his previous 4.62 time. Bergeron’s slow time dropped him off team’s draft boards and made him available for the Bears as a mini-camp invite. There are some off-field red flags as well as questions about his speed, but this is a former 5-star talent who flashed elite production at a big-time college program.
Bergeron doesn’t have the foot speed to be an every down back, but his size gives the Bears a power element in the backfield that they just don’t have right now. He proved his red zone skills as a sophomore at Texas with 16 TDs and could play a similar role with the Bears who have struggled in short-yardage and goal-line situations the last few seasons.
Bergeron has good vision and is a one-cut runner similar to the Broncos C.J. Anderson, who had success in OC Adam Gase’s scheme last year. He lacks long-speed but he has the short-area quickness and ability to gain yards after contact neccessary to be an effective short-yardage back and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield making his more than just a one-trick RB. With the running back depth chart unsettled behind Matt Forte, Bergeron has a legit shot to make the roster if he can contribute on special teams.