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The Chicago Bears had one of the best overall drafts in recent history and signed some interesting undrafted free agents as well. Over the next week Beargoggleson will be breaking down the Bears draft picks and the undrafted free agents with a legitimate shot to make the 2015 roster. With a new management team taking over the leadership of the Bears and the Bears transitioning to new schemes on both sides of the ball, there will be significant roster turnover. Rumors are already circulating about some veteran players and recent draft picks that may not be on the roster in 2015. With all of the turnover in the front office and coaching staff, there is more of an opportunity than usual for rookies to make the team.
DT Terry Williams, East Carolina
Attributes:
Height | Weight: 6’1 | 353
40-time | 10-yard split: 5.25 | 1.81
Bench reps: 22
Vertical | Broad Jumps: 24″ | 8’4″
Overview:
Massive, 2-gap NT who is affectionately known as “The Swamp Monster”. If Williams manages to make the team, he would at least have the best nickname on the Bears. He flashed NFL ability, just not often enough to warrant a draft pick apparently. With so few true 2-gap NTs, I was pretty sure Williams would be drafted in the 6th-7th round range at the latest. He does have some off-field red flags with a few weed suspensions but his tape was impressive enough to deserve a day 3 pick.
Williams was also passed over in the priority undrafted free agent phase of the draft, which left him available for the Bears to offer him an invite to their rookie mini-camp in early May. The Bears were impressed enough with Williams potential to sign him to a 3-year rookie minimum deal. It could be one of the Bears best moves of the offseason.
If you watch Williams against Virginia Tech (2013 & 2104), North Carolina, and Temple, he looks like a player who has legit NFL ability. He showed the ability to stack and shed blockers, to generate interior pressure, two impressive pass rush moves (spin, arm-over), and a surprising motor for a 350 pounder. The talent is there for Williams to make the final 53-man roster and have an impact on Sundays, but he is long-shot.
Stats / Highlights:
- 125 tackles
- 15 TFLs
- 5 forced fumbles
- 3 sacks
- 2 blocked kicks
- 1st team All-American Conference (2014)