Last season, the Bears struck a lucky chord when they claimed undrafted safety Harold Jones-Quartey off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.
At the time, it wasn’t clear what they had found. However, due to injuries and poor play in the second level, Jones-Quartey was thrown into the starting free safety position and played admirably for an undrafted rookie.
Finishing the season with 25 tackles, an interception and forced fumble, Jones-Quartey was was clearly the Bears’ diamond in the rough. Coming into 2016, while the Bears might not be done plucking undrafted free agents, there are still a few prospects which might be the next Jones-Quartey. Here are four possible players that might stick:
Derek Keaton, PR/KR, Georgia Southern
To put it simply, while the Bears finished third in the NFL last season with a 27-yard kick return average, there was nothing spectacular to write about when it came to the Bears’ return game. Wide receiver Marc Mariani was flat returning punts and fumbled three, while Deonte Thompson emerged late as a kick returner with only a little spark.
Keaton, an undrafted Georgia Southern product, could stick for that very reason.
The former Eagle was an All-Sun Belt special teams performer the last two season, being named to the second-team in 2014 and then the first-team in 2015. A major part of those accolades could stem from his return averages, as Keaton averaged 25.9 yards per kick return and 15.3 yards per punt return.
Position wise, Keaton is a wide receiver. However, Georgia Southern utilizes an option-style offense, meaning passing the football was almost an afterthought. That said, Keaton did see the field for 579 offensive snaps and 118 special teams plays.
More importantly, Keaton only fumbled three times in his college career, which could bode very well for him, considering a few of the Bears’ return game woes lies strictly in fumbles.
Keaton is a long shot to make the roster, but his skill set may be just what the Bears need on special teams. That alone makes him a good enough candidate to stick around as any.
Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard
Braunecker is billed by many scouts as a blocking tight end, but the Harvard product begs to differ. The former Crimson tight end was a first team All-Ivy League selection his senior season, as he hauled in 48 passes for 850 yards and eight scores.
While those stats alone have all the makings of a draftable tight end, scouts say that Braunecker carries himself with the sort of attitude that not many prospects have. That ‘tude has even helped Braunecker through the first few OTA sessions, prompting an article from Chicago Tribune Bears beat writer Brad Biggs about his impressive offseason campaign.
In the article Biggs wrote that Braunecker “impressed during organized team activities with some nifty catches downfield working with the second team and has shown good speed and hands.”
Braunecker is also quickly acquainting himself with the Bears locker room by fielding science questions. Braunecker, who was a molecular and cellular biology major at Harvard, has become the Bears resident Bill Nye, according to Biggs’ article.
“If we have any questions, I go straight to him,” tight end Zach Miller said (according to Biggs). “ out there. I have kids. I want to travel outside of the country, I’m going to him before I go to anyone else.”
Obviously, with the trade of tight end Martellus Bennett to New England, the Bears are in the market for a No. 2 tight end. As good as Braunecker looks on paper, NFL.com’s draft profile on Braunecker notes he will have to add some muscle to his frame in order to have blocking success at the NFL level. However, if he can use that same attitude which helped him succeed at the combine, Braunecker should be on the Bears roster come September.
Roy Robertson-Harris, OLB, Texas-El Paso
While the Bears did go the outside linebacker direction in Leonard Floyd with the ninth overall pick, Roy Robertson-Harris’ signing was hailed as one of the best undrafted free agent signings simply because of how sought after he was.
Hailing from UTEP, Roy Robertson-Harris blipped on the radar of NFL scouts and coaches alike when he chased down New Mexico State’s Larry Rose III during a Sept. 19 game where Rose was loose. The running back split into the second level and was headed to the end zone when Robertson-Harris caught him from behind, showcasing the defenders speed.
Although he played defensive end at UTEP, Robertson-Harris is projected as an OLB at the NFL level according to NFL.com. The Miners’ 2015 captain racked up 10.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in his college career, and was projected as a fifth round pick in last April’s NFL Draft. Said Bears LB coach Clint Hurtt to Robertson-Harris:
You’re going to have to step up in special teams, but I’m going to help you work your tail off to be able to play and help us win some ball games.
Surprising to many, Robertson-Harris wasn’t drafted, but that didn’t keep him down for long; his measurables and athleticism are the kinds of traits that General Manager Ryan Pace adores. Robertson-Harris stands at 6 foot 7 and weighs in at 255 pounds, and developed a spin move to help him shed blocks. While scouts do worry he’ll need some time to develop, they do acknowledge he has the tools to make it work.
Plus, he already has a relationship with Hurtt, who was one of the first to talk to Robertson-Harris when he knew he was going undrafted.
“He said, ‘I can really work with you,” Robertson-Harris said in a CBS Chicago article. “Obviously, you’re going to have to step up in special teams, but I’m going to help you work your tail off to be able to play and help us win some ball games.”
This is coming from a coach who helped Willie Young and Lamarr Houston transition to OLB positions in a 3-4 defense, where both combined for 14.5 sacks in 2015. Those are good chances.
Next: 2016 Chicago Bears - Bold Predictions
Kevin Peterson, DB, Oklahoma State
When it comes to the Bears secondary, they might need all the help they can get. And when it comes to Kevin Peterson, he’s gone up against some pretty hefty tests already.
At Oklahoma State, Peterson went up against Baylor’s Corey Coleman and TCU’s Josh Doctson, both first round picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, and held his own. While Peterson might not be the biggest man in the secondary (5 foot 10, 181 pounds), scouting reports say he plays with confidence and a high football IQ.
Those were on display while he was a Cowboy, as Peterson was named as one of the 15 Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists (nation’s top defensive back) and also garnered a first-team All-Big 12 nod.
Unfortunately for Peterson, scouts also sized him up as too small for pro ball which caused him to go undrafted, even with a late sixth round grade. There are concerns about inconsistent footwork and size, but those are both things that can be fixed by coaches and in the weight room.
While Peterson wouldn’t be a regular starting corner in the NFL, he has the skill set to stick on a roster and play as a possible nickel corner. Scouts love Peterson’s closing speed in small-area passing plays and also how he closes against the run.
In a Bears defensive backfield that is honestly up for grabs, Peterson could find a spot either in the nickel rotation or on special teams. It doesn’t bode well for him that Pace drafted three other defensive backs, but training camp and preseason exist for a reason.