GM Ryan Poles did everything possible to ensure the Chicago Bears’ 2024 draft class was high-quality since he only ended up with five picks. All things considered, he did well. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were universally praised selections. Kiran Amegadjie, Tory Taylor, and Austin Booker also had their fair share of fans. Projections indicate the Bears have three day one starters on board and two excellent developmental projects. Still, the job wasn’t done. Pole had to supplement such a small class somehow. That means finding additional help in undrafted free agency.
At first glance, the Bears didn’t do anything special on that front. The biggest name they managed to snag was Illinois defensive tackle Keith Randolph, the linemate of 2nd round pick Jer’Zhan Newton. However, it appears they did better than a lot of people thought. Thor Nystrom has covered the draft for Fantasy Pros for several years. He’s often been critical of the Bears’ work in the past. Not this time. He gave them a respectable 11th in his rankings of every undrafted rookie class.
Much of it was thanks to two signings.
Chicago pulled QB2 Tyson Bagent in the 2023 UDFA process. One year later, they signed the top undrafted signal-caller in QB Austin Reed. Reed won the Division II national championship in 2019 at West Florida, and later transferred up to WKU.
With the Hilltoppers over the last two seasons, he posted a 71/22 TD/INT ratio. Reed comes from a gimmicky Air Raid offense that featured many quick first-read throws. A rhythm thrower who excels at timing concepts, Reed is comfortable in the pocket and has shown the ability to click through progressions…
…EDGE Jamree Kromah took the opposite transfer path, skipping down from the Big 10’s Rutgers to James Madison. His 2023 breakout and measurables gave him a chance to get drafted; Chicago pounced when he didn’t.
Kromah is blessed with an NFL-ready frame and great length, along with a 9.67 RAS that included a sterling 10-foot broad jump. The Bears are going to have to decide what he is – should he bulk up for the inside, or perhaps drop a little weight to try to improve his lateral agility for EDGE duties?
The Chicago Bears quietly fortified their depth.
This was a big concern coming out of the draft. Reed gives them some extra competition for the backup quarterback job with Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien. Timing and accuracy are two critical traits for that position. While Reed may not become a starter, he could have a bright future as a solid #2. Kromah might be overlooked because he played at James Madison, which only last year became a Division I school. It happened to be the same year he exploded for 10 sacks. The kid has a hot motor, is a good athlete, and boasts the physical dimensions of an NFL player.
The tricky part is finding his position. He played college at defensive end, but he may not have the bend and closing speed necessary for that spot. Moving inside would be an adjustment. He’d have to add weight and learn how to operate in tighter confines. That said, his length and quickness would become instant weapons. All of it depends on what Matt Eberflus envisions for him. If he or Randolph can become quality rotational options up front, the Chicago Bears are in a great spot.
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See, the Bears do not necessarily need a senior QB and an expensive DE this year.