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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.
S Sam Carter, TCU
Attributes:
Height | Weight: 6’1 | 215
40-time | 10-yard split: 4.68 | 1.61
Bench reps: 16
Vertical | Broad jump: 31.5″ | 9.4′
Overview:
TCU just missed out on a shot for the national championship and their squad was loaded with potential NFL players, but for some reason they all had disappointing draft seasons. Carter and DT Chuckie Hunter were snubbed from the combine despite being two of the top three draftable prospects according to CBS’s preseason scouting report. Even those Horned Frogs that were invited, Paul Dawson, Kevin White, and Chris Hackett, struggled at the combine all running significantly slower than projected. Its like they were all so bummed about missing out on an invite to the BCS Championship that they just stopped training. I’m sure that’s not the case, but whoever the TCU players employed to prepare their draft prospects for the combine failed miserably.
Back to Carter who was projected to be an early day 3 pick coming into the 2014 season, but fell out of the draft completely and wasn’t even signed as a priority free agent. The Bears invited Carter to their rookie mini-camp and didn’t sign him afterwards. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t end up being signed, it took CB Al Louis-Jean two mini-camps before securing a contract and he was just re-signed to a multi-year deal this offseason. The Bears are so weak at safety, that Carter should have a legitimate chance to earn a roster spot by the beginning of training camp.
Carter is a three-time all Big 12 2nd team selection who was a consistent force against the run and pass for the Horned Frogs as a hybrid strong safety / sub-package linebacker. His athletic measurements aren’t exciting, but Carter has been a very good football player throughout his college career and a classic example of the sum being better than the individual traits.
Stats / Awards:
3 Year starter
13 Interceptions
175 Tackles
21 Passes defended
14.5 TFLs
7 Sacks
3-Time 2nd team All-Big 12