3 rookies Chicago Bears signed after minicamp

The Chicago Bears hosted their first offseason training program that featured rookies, and other less experienced NFL players. While the camp is all about getting rookies on the right page before they get into OTAs with the rest of the veterans, it also is a tryout environment for some players who did not sign UDFA contracts.

These players can officially earn their UDFA contract with a strong week. Considering the Bears roster is more in flux than many others at this point, this workout is valuable for the team to continue to build up the backend of the roster.

The team wound up signing three players who were brought in on a tryout basis, but now will be heading to training camp later this summer. Who are these players?

5. A.J. Thomas, Safety, Western Michigan

A.J. Thomas is a player who is right on the line between versatile and tweener. Thomas was a linebacker early into his career at Western Michigan, but he finished his career as a safety.

Thomas worked out as safety and that will be his position in the NFL. Below you can see how he compares to DeAndre Houston-Carson, a player he will be competing with a few weeks from now for a roster spot.

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The two are being compared as linebackers because that was technically A.J. Thomas’s position, but they are both safeties. Either way, you can see that Thomas is taller and heavier than Houston-Carson.

He certainly has the adequate athleticism to be considered an NFL safety. Still, a linebacker/safety hybrid knows his best chance to make the roster is on special teams. Fortunately for Thomas, he does have special teams experience in his background at Western Michigan. It is just a start, but earning a contract this weekend is impressive.