The Chicago Bears 2019 undrafted class is one of the largest in the franchise’s history with 22 names joining the roster following the draft and rookie minicamps. No doubt this is a response to their limited resources in terms of money and draft picks. GM Ryan Pace wanted to make sure he gave his team a proper infusion of young talent.
So he and the front worked extra hard to get eyes on every possible player who might go undrafted they could. They even used several top 30 visits before the draft to meet with them. There is a growing buzz in the days and weeks following the action that the Bears may have exceeded even their own expectations. This could very well be their best undrafted class ever, at least on paper.
This was confirmed by several notable draft experts. Gil Brandt, a Hall of Fame executive, stated as much over a week ago. His statements have since been reinforced by others. For example, there is former scout and top NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. He pinpointed the Bears as scoring two of his top undrafted players.
He wasn’t alone. Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network took it a step further, giving them three such players on his list.
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WR – Emanuel Hall, Missouri (Chicago Bears)
WR – Anthony Ratliff-Williams, North Carolina (Tennessee Titans)
WR – Penny Hart, Georgia State (Indianapolis Colts)
TE – Dax Raymond, Utah State (Chicago Bears)
OT – Donnell Greene, Minnesota (Jacksonville Jaguars)
OT – Ryan Bates, Penn State (Philadelphia Eagles)
IOL – Alex Bars, Notre Dame (Chicago Bears)
Chicago Bears 2019 undrafted class has significant potential
It’s no surprise all of the talk is around the Bears’ offensive undrafted players. They weren’t going to be aggressive on defense since they don’t need significant help on that side of the ball. They are still in search of more talent and depth on offense though. That is why they were active in their efforts to find help at every notable position group.
Emanuel Hall brings some of the most legitimate deep speed with him from Missouri. Dax Raymond was a big, athletic target at Utah State with strong hands and route running prowess. Alex Bars was a strong and tough blocker for Notre Dame before suffering a poorly-timed knee injury. Under more normal circumstances, all of them would’ve been drafted.
If health issues don’t crop up, the odds of them making the final roster appear strong. Whether they become significant contributors down the road is hard to predict. Still, to get such potential wealth of quality talent for ridiculously low prices is a testament to the work Pace and his scouts did over the past several months.
