The Chicago Bears put a cap on a productive weekend started by the NFL draft and ending with undrafted free agency. All told, they added seven draft picks followed by an initial eight rookie free agents. That number soon increased to 11 as they came to terms with three others prior to their official announcement. This means 18 rookies will be joining the team whenever offseason programs can officially start.
This puts the Bears’ overall roster at 86 players in total. That is four shy of the full 90 compliment. It leads one to think more moves are on the way but that’s speculating. So what about these three additional rookie free agents they slid under the radar? Here is a quick update on each name, what they accomplished in college, and what they might bring to the table going into training camp and perhaps beyond.
Chicago Bears round out UDFA list with three new names
Lee Autry (DT, Mississippi State)
The defensive tackle played 12 games for the Bulldogs over his final two college seasons. In that time he had a half sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss. So production clearly wasn’t the reason the Bears signed him. It must’ve been things they saw on film, and this is true. Dig through the tape and there are frequent instances of him blowing up guards and centers into the backfield to disrupt offensive plays. He has notable lower body strength. What he lacks is an understanding of how to use his hands to keep blockers off his body.
Keandre Jones (LB, Maryland)
Jones actually spent his first three college seasons at Ohio State. Unfortunately being stuck in such a football factory made it impossible for him to see the field. So he transferred to Maryland in 2019. There he blossomed as an outside edge rusher with seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss. His game against his former team that year was especially notable as he delivered 8 tackles, a tackle for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
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One cool fact that paints a clear picture of him? His Buckeye teammates mobbed him after the game. A surefire sign of how impactful he was in their locker room despite limited playing time. Jones is 6’3 and 220 lbs. So he’s a bit undersized as a pass rusher but could have a future as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He’s known for a strong work ethic and a high motor along with being a good athlete.
Napoleon Maxwell (RB, Florida International)
Most of the attention at FIU from NFL scouts this offseason was directed at quarterback James Morgan. He was eventually drafted in the 4th round. It’s a shame Maxwell didn’t get some of that attention. A lot of people down there wonder if he might’ve been drafted had his college career not started so disastrously. One where he tore his ACL twice as a freshman and a sophomore. That kind of setback would’ve crushed some careers. Maxwell battled back to not miss a game over three subsequent seasons.
The running back was never the featured guy in the FIU offense but always produced when given his opportunities. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry in 2019, scoring nine touchdowns along the way. The kid has solid vision and underrated speed despite the knee injuries. It’s not hard to see why the Bears liked him.
