UDFAs

[AZ54]

No thread this year.  Kinda indicates our lack of desperation to find talent on the fringes on the NFL world, which is a good sign.  

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/4/26/24417474/chicago-bears-2025-undrafted-free-agent-news-and-rumor-tracker-udfa-nfl-draft

These UDFAs are reported to have signed with the Bears.

 

 

1. Jereme Robinson, DE, Kansas (link)
2. Tysheem Johnson, S, Oregon (link)
3. Jahdae Walker, WR, Texas A&M (link)
4. Xavier Carlton, DE, Cal (link)
5. Jonathan Kim, K, Michigan State (link)
6. Luke Elkin, LS, Iowa (link)
7. J.P. Richardson, WR, TCU (link)
8. Power Echols, LB, North Carolina (link)
9. Major Burns, S, LSU (link)

[AZ54]

This safety should have a shot at being depth on the roster, or end up on the practice squad.  He's not big but plays with the proper attitude. 

 https://nfldraftdiamonds.com/2025/03/tysheem-johnson/

 

[AZ54]

Jahdae Walker also has potential. Very poor production last year and I have no clue what was behind that.  What stands out to me is his 3-cone drill time of 6.71, especially at 6'3".   Usually those are the guys who can get in/out of their breaks fast.  You can see that quickness on the highlight film too with the ball in his hands.  Can he do all the other professional things it takes to be an NFL WR?  He should compete for a PS slot.   

https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1092035&DraftYear=2025

 

[AZ54]

J.P. Richardson is pure slot WR.   Has some quickness and should also challenge for the PS.   There is nothing certain about the bottom end of our WR group although I believe Duvernay has the returner job locked up.   Scott and Olamide Zaccheaus are far from locks.  Richardson has better hands than both, adjusts to the ball well, and appears to be better at creating separation.    On the flip side the veterans have more speed.  

Other than that we have the long snapper from Iowa to make our punter happy.  Given all of our issues at LS last season who knows if he has a shot to win the job.  For everyone else their career highlight will likely be the invitation to Bears training camp.   

 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Xavier Carlton DE UCLA - 9 sacks, has good size 6-4 270.  He might sneak on the 53 or stick on PS.

He can also slide inside to DT. 

 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

9 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

J.P. Richardson is pure slot WR.   Has some quickness and should also challenge for the PS.   There is nothing certain about the bottom end of our WR group although I believe Duvernay has the returner job locked up.   Scott and Olamide Zaccheaus are far from locks.  Richardson has better hands than both, adjusts to the ball well, and appears to be better at creating separation.    On the flip side the veterans have more speed.  

Other than that we have the long snapper from Iowa to make our punter happy.  Given all of our issues at LS last season who knows if he has a shot to win the job.  For everyone else their career highlight will likely be the invitation to Bears training camp.   

 

I like this kid, maybe because I see Wes Welker or Julien Edelmen types.  

Also, I was worried they would draft a kicker but they did the wise thing and brought in MSU kicker Kim. He can hit the 55 yd shots.  Detroit seemed to find a guy off the street last year that did well. Santos cap could be cleared after his limitations hurt the Bears a few times.

[adam]

I am glad to see a couple of Edge and Safeties. Very interesting to see zero RBs. They must believe in Wheeler or have something else cooking. 

[AZ54]

29 minutes ago, adam said:

I am glad to see a couple of Edge and Safeties. Very interesting to see zero RBs. They must believe in Wheeler or have something else cooking. 

Good point.  

[adam]

26 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Good point.  

I was thinking maybe Dobbins or Chubb. With the run of RBs drafted, plus what teams already had on their rosters, those free agents don't have very many options. The Bears seem like one of the logical destinations. 

[AZ54]

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Xavier Carlton DE UCLA - 9 sacks, has good size 6-4 270.  He might sneak on the 53 or stick on PS.

He can also slide inside to DT. 

 

I think I watched 5 plays of his highlights and viewed him as slow, stiff, and not very strong.  If a DE is going to be that tight moving around he better bring the power. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

24 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I think I watched 5 plays of his highlights and viewed him as slow, stiff, and not very strong.  If a DE is going to be that tight moving around he better bring the 

 I am glad they have one prospect with physical traits that fit what they like. He finds a way into the back field and racks up pressures and 9 sacks.  He will compete amongst Daniel Hardy and maybe Dominque Robinson for the bottom spots.

[Stinger226]

1 hour ago, adam said:

I am glad to see a couple of Edge and Safeties. Very interesting to see zero RBs. They must believe in Wheeler or have something else cooking. 

1) they like Swift better than fans do

2) they like RJ better than fans do 

3) they think Monongai can play 

All along fans were putting Swift down while coaches like him. Because of the fake story ( the bears are trading up for Jeanty)  fans assumed we want a load back really bad.

Clearly a disconnect between what the coaches feel and the fans don't know 

[Stinger226]

I think we now have a 90 nan roster. To add anyone else they have to cut someone.

[AZ54]

15 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

1) they like Swift better than fans do

2) they like RJ better than fans do 

3) they think Monongai can play 

All along fans were putting Swift down while coaches like him. Because of the fake story ( the bears are trading up for Jeanty)  fans assumed we want a load back really bad.

Clearly a disconnect between what the coaches feel and the fans don't know 

Or players simply didn’t fall to them where they had them ranked.  Or Luther Burden was simply too good to pass up.  You can’t simply infer they like all of our RBs better and didn’t view it as a need.  

[Stinger226]

8 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Or players simply didn’t fall to them where they had them ranked.  Or Luther Burden was simply too good to pass up.  You can’t simply infer they like all of our RBs better and didn’t view it as a need.  

They had several chances to draft a RB higher but they choose to trade down. Let's say Henderson was their guy and got picked the player before us. Why not just pick your next option right now instead of trading down? I think that indicated it may not be a priority.

The same with the other trade downs plus in the 4th with lots of options at RB, they took a LB. They had several opportunities to grab a higher rated RB. They may have targeted Monongai all along knowing he would be a late pick.

[dawhizz]

27 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

1) they like Swift better than fans do

2) they like RJ better than fans do 

3) they think Monongai can play 

All along fans were putting Swift down while coaches like him. Because of the fake story ( the bears are trading up for Jeanty)  fans assumed we want a load back really bad.

Clearly a disconnect between what the coaches feel and the fans don't know 

I don’t know why you think the Bears trying to trade up for Jeanty was a fake story. Seems pretty credible to me based on the number of people who reported it. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

57 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

They had several chances to draft a RB higher but they choose to trade down. Let's say Henderson was their guy and got picked the player before us. Why not just pick your next option right now instead of trading down? I think that indicated it may not be a priority.

The same with the other trade downs plus in the 4th with lots of options at RB, they took a LB. They had several opportunities to grab a higher rated RB. They may have targeted Monongai all along knowing he would be a late pick.

They are behind all their players under contract, but would upgrade if the opportunity came. 

Watch the Bears day 3 presser.  They said they were taking bpa on their board and not reaching for a need.  They didn't have assets to move up and were staying on course with their strategy. 

Does the LB and CB make sense with RB, S, and DE needs?  I guess In 2 years we find out, because these were two off the radar picks along with the G/C.

 

[BearFan PHX]

3 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

1) they like Swift better than fans do

2) they like RJ better than fans do 

3) they think Monongai can play 

All along fans were putting Swift down while coaches like him. Because of the fake story ( the bears are trading up for Jeanty)  fans assumed we want a load back really bad.

Clearly a disconnect between what the coaches feel and the fans don't know 

youre full of it.

They targeted a bunch of HBs and got outplayed by teams right above them. Poles said as much. Dont ask me to find it, but it was in one of the press conferences, not the first day.

And I believe he was targeting Ersery too before Texas traded up and took him. I can't say I KNOW that, but you cant say you know we werent either. And so what we took and that we traded down doesnt prove anything.

You really are making a lot of sweeping conclusions based on patterns that arent large enough to count as proof. SAnd a lot of them seem like attempts to prove you were right. Everyone else is talking about the team, not beating eachother.

#3 is right. They wouldnt have drafted him if they didnt think he could play.

But I think Poles messed up big time this year. He did play the draft right for value, but i think he got outfoxed on players several times. Specifically at LT and HB. On the other hand, we have Burden, who isnt a need but was great value. I am sure the players we took into the 4th round or so will be good for us. But I dont think this was Poles' hope or plan.

The player Evals are probably really good because of the coaching staff, but the way he played the day I think he didnt do that well.

But most of all Johnson will know whether Poles got the right guys, or whether we whiffed and had to go to plan B and C too often. And if that's the case, Johnson has the juice to oust Poles in a year or two. Not predicting that, but just going through the various scenarios.

I think LT, HB and GM are our biggest weaknesses.

[Stinger226]

We are back to the same place we always are , we both have opinions that can be neither verified or denied. You list the same weaknesses you did before the draft except now Poles is one because he didn't draft who you wanted. If those were major weaknesses, logic says they would have addressed them in the draft differently. I think it's funny you never mentioned Tripoli once and yet the rookie RT is your savior at LT. 

[dawhizz]

Not particularly impressed by this batch of UDFAs but let’s see what they show. 

[Stinger226]

11 minutes ago, dawhizz said:

Not particularly impressed by this batch of UDFAs but let’s see what they show. 

As we go forward, none of these should expect to  be rostered because our roster is a lot better now . That's a good thing. Before we use to look for a Sanborn type but now, it doesn't matter.

[AZ54]

5 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

They had several chances to draft a RB higher but they choose to trade down. Let's say Henderson was their guy and got picked the player before us. Why not just pick your next option right now instead of trading down? I think that indicated it may not be a priority.

The same with the other trade downs plus in the 4th with lots of options at RB, they took a LB. They had several opportunities to grab a higher rated RB. They may have targeted Monongai all along knowing he would be a late pick.

Yes. We’re staying the exact same thing.  It was not viewed as an urgent need but a pick could or would have been made if the value was there.  

[Stinger226]

23 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Yes. We’re staying the exact same thing.  It was not viewed as an urgent need but a pick could or would have been made if the value was there.  

At pick 39 they really didn't need a WR but the talent was  so good they couldn't pass it up.  At that time Ersery was still available, if LT was so important, why not take him there? 

At 41 , we traded back and Kaleb Johnson was still available at 56, we didn't take him. At 132 we took a LB and at that time only 8 RBs were off the board. Brashard Smith, jaydon blue and Devin Neil were still available. 

At pick 195 Smith and Martinez, Ollie Gordon were all available, we waited until 233 to take a RB.

Does those decisions show a heavy need for LT or RB?  I think not. Instead of Ersery they took a RT later in the round. I'm not saying he can't play LT, but changing positions doesn't sound like a first year starter.

I think their draft decisions tell a story about what they thought were big needs on the team. LT and RB didn't appear to be at the top of the list.

[BearFan PHX]

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

We are back to the same place we always are , we both have opinions that can be neither verified or denied.

I agree. I am not saying I'm right, I'm saying you cant say you're right either so how can you list things we now "know?" Just because Im saying you dont know factually doesnt mean Im saying I do.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

It would be great to see the board so we could understand the process.

I did hear Ersery didn't have the lateral movement to fit the Bears needs, so I don't think he was a must and prompted the trade down. Luther Burden wasn't even expected, but after Judkins and Henderson were taken it was a no brainer.  If they were, I don't think the Bears trade Buffalo, but we will never know.  The trade gave the Bears an OT and DT.   

What the draft may he looked like if Henderson was available.

1 Loveland TE

2 Henderson RB

2 JT Tuimoloua DE

4 Jalen Royals WR

5 JJ Peques DT

7 Holin Pierce OT