People know the foundation of great teams in the NFL is built with high draft choices. First and second round picks. However, the real meat of a roster is made up of less-heralded names. They are late round picks and, more often than not, undrafted free agents. Teams that consistently find value in the undrafted market tend to find the most success. The Chicago Bears are no different. Their best decade of the Super Bowl era in the 1980s was fueled by some outstanding undrafted players like Jay Hilgenberg, Dennis McKinnon, and Leslie Frazier.
With few high draft choices this off-season, GM Ryan Poles knew he had to get lucky with his undrafted run. Though early, he may have secured a solid contributor in linebacker Jack Sanborn. He’s been the MVP of the Bears’ preseason with 14 tackles, three for a loss, an interception, and a recovered fumble. It appeared he was the only undrafted player in a position to make the roster.
That may not be entirely true. Not according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic.
“So where does this leave Mario Edwards, who is officially listed as a defensive end now, or undrafted rookie Micah Dew-Treadway, who is from Bolingbrook?
The veteran and rookie appear to be going in different directions. Edwards has been in and out with an undisclosed injury. Edwards hasn’t played at all this preseason. Dew-Treadway had a tackle for a loss against the Seahawks. Pennel also has made the most of his increased opportunities.”
The @ChicagoBears defense steps up on 4th down for the win!pic.twitter.com/NPTzBOsVpW
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 13, 2022
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Chicago Bears aren’t afraid to go young.
They’ve already proven that by jettisoning several veterans over the past few months. Head coach Matt Eberflus is only interested in putting together the best 53-man roster possible. Age and experience mean nothing. It is about who earns their spots. Edward Jr. hasn’t done that. He’s barely practiced all month. The best ability is availability, as the saying goes. What he did the past two years for the Bears means nothing to this new regime. That was in a different defense.
Treadway isn’t going to steal a starting job anytime soon. Still, he’s flashed enough to suggest he can be a serviceable back-of-the-depth-chart player with decent interior pass rush ability. It would make for a great story. The hometown kid defies the odds to make the team he grew up watching. People will denounce his upside in the long term. It doesn’t matter. He put in the work and took advantage of his opportunities. Such things deserve a reward.
Much of this comes down to whether the Chicago Bears decide they want to find outside help at defensive tackle. It’s an important position in a 4-3 defense. Their overall talent is already questionable. If a proven veteran pops loose from another team, Poles may decide to sign him as a precaution against injuries. All Treadway can do is keep working.
