After adding a running back to round out their selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears quickly went to work finding undrafted free agents to sign.
Of course, players often have an uphill climb toward making the 53-man roster, but for the Bears, they have had recent success in this department. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent was an undrafted free agent whom the Bears immediately signed to a three-year deal. Elsewhere, last offseason, the Bears added undrafted running back Ian Wheeler. Wheeler seemed to be on a path toward making the Bears' roster before an ACL injury ended his year before the regular season.
In the initial round of undrafted free-agent signings, the Bears have cast a wide net.
Chicago Bears undrafted free-agent signings
- Safety Major Burns, LSU
- Linebacker Power Echols, North Carolina
- Wide receiver J.P. Richardson, TCU
- Kicker Jonathan Kim, Michigan State
- Long snapper Luke Elkin, Iowa
- Edge Xavier Carlton, Cal
- Wide receiver Jahdae Walker, Texas A&M
- Defensive end Jerome Robinson, Kansas
While typically, most teams do add a quarterback as an undrafted free-agent signing, a reminder that the Bears still have Austin Reed on their roster behind Caleb Williams, Bagent, and Case Keenum.
Lost in the shuffle of free agency last month was the fact that the Bears did not bring back long snapper Patrick Scales. Scales missed the entire 2024 season with a back injury, and Scott Daly took his spot on the roster. The Bears did re-sign Daly, but there could be room for improvement given the gaffes the Bears had on field goals last season. Luke Elkin was a college teammate of current Bears' punter Tory Taylor.
Similar to quarterbacks, most teams also do add an additional kicker to get through mini-camps and the preseason but the Bears could also be looking to push Cairo Santos by bringing in Jonathan Kim. In an NFL where kickers are routinely hitting 50+ yard field goals. Santos' inability to do could become a liability.