Ranking 5 best UDFAs Chicago Bears signed after 2023 NFL draft
4. Did Chicago Bears add a tight end who could make the roster in Damien Caffrey?
The Chicago Bears went the small school route when looking to add some depth to their tight end room. They signed UDFA Damien Caffrey, a tight end from Stony Brook, to compete for a roster spot. The good news for Caffrey is that he enters a tight-end room that is not very stacked.
Sure, there is Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan, but after that, there is a real shot at competing for the number three job. He has Jake Tonges and Chase Allen to compete with; they were UDFAs last season.
Caffrey is not the most athletic tight end, but this may be why the team is interested in him specifically.
Damien Caffrey is a TE prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 6.05 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 438 out of 1105 TE from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/YMktfRU3Ze #Bears pic.twitter.com/MoCA65Tqkc
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 30, 2023
In the past two years at Stony Brook Caffrey played 1,126 snaps. He was blocking on 831 snaps and only ran 295 routes. He is a blocking tight end first and foremost. This obviously fits the Chicago Bears when you consider that blocking is a weakness for Tonyan.
Cole Kmet is a pretty good blocker, but if he is the best blocking tight end on the roster it will be tough to maximize him in the passing game. One way to get Kmet out in routes more is to have a pure blocking tight end as your number three. When the team needs to go heavy they could have Caffrey stay and block and then send Kmet out into a route.
The fact that he fits, and the reality that he just has two other UDFAs in front of him to make the roster is what makes Caffrey a must-watch player this offseason. We will see if he can catch the Chicago Bears' eyes during the minicamp.