The Chicago Bears take their work in undrafted free agency as seriously as any team. They proved it from year one under Ryan Poles with the signing of Jack Sanborn. Last season, it was Tyson Bagent. Going into 2024, with only five draft picks, the Bears knew they had to score some potential contributors for their roster. Based on the initial evidence from Saturday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, they have reasons for optimism. Two undrafted rookies played pivotal roles in helping the team close out the win in the 4th quarter. Cornerback Reddy Steward had a 4th down stop. Running back Ian Wheeler then scored two touchdowns.
However, it turns out they weren’t the only ones impacting the game. Three other undrafted names made major contributions that directly affected the outcome.
Remember these Chicago Bears undrafted rookies.
Jamree Kromah (DE, James Madison)
- 3 pressures
- 2 QB hits
- 1 run stop
Kromah was a late bloomer in college, having done little across four years. However, the light went on in 2023 when he had 10 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 13 games. He’s big, strong, has long arms, and has enough athleticism. People didn’t know if that great season was merely a flash in the pan. To generate that much heat on the quarterback in only 13 snaps should give people a good idea of his potential.
Brenden Bates (TE, Kentucky)
- 1 catch for 16 yards
- 3 special teams tackles
Bates had two catches for 47 yards in the opener against Houston last week. He now adds another 16-yard grab to the tally. Yet what really jumps out is the impact he’s having on special teams. Three tackles in one game is no joke. He was all over the field. With the amount of depth the Chicago Bears have at tight end, his only course onto the roster would be special teams. This is a great sign. The kid never had big numbers at Kentucky, but scouts loved his mix of size and athleticism.
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Dashaun Mallory (DT, Arizona State)
- 3 tackles
- 1 run stop
- 1 pressure (led to pick-six)
He didn’t light up the stat sheet like others, but Mallory’s presence was felt often. He was a fixture in their stout run defense and got a hand in the face of the quarterback that led to Micah Baskerville’s game-sealing pick-six. Mallory is a lot like Kromah. He didn’t do much through the early part of his college career. Then, in 2023, he racked up 10 tackles for a loss and two sacks after transferring to ASU. Most agree he is a good run-stopper. Can he be more than that? The Bears aim to find out.
It is hard not to get excited about this undrafted group. All of them show flashes of being more than just fringe backups and practice squad additions. The final two preseason games should reveal a lot.
