For all the grieve Ryan Pace gets these days, the Chicago Bears GM still deserves some appreciation. While his draft track record is inconsistent to this point, there is one part of his tenure deserving of praise. The man has established a strong reputation for finding quality talent in undrafted free agency. Something that never used to be a thing with this team going back several years.
Jerry Angelo was never any good at it. Phil Emery was even worse. Not since the days of Jim Finks and Bill Tobin was this team effective at finding undrafted talent. Pace finally brought that vital part of roster building back. While he hasn’t found a star to this point, he’s discovered a number of solid backups and effective starters since he arrived in 2015. Some of whom went on to secure quality contracts from other teams.
- 2015 – Bryce Callahan
- 2016 – Roy Robertson-Harris
- 2017 – Rashaad Coward
- 2018 – Kevin Toliver
- 2019 – Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher
- 2020 – Artavis Pierce
One can expect the Bears will be active again this year.
They have a number of roster spots still open and only eight draft picks at their disposal. With a youth injection needed, one should expect the team will be adding a host of undrafted names. While they probably won’t touch the 22 they grabbed back in 2019, it figures to be considerably more than the paltry 11 from last year. With that in mind, are there any names out there who may not hear their names called on draft weekend that deserve attention?
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Names the Chicago Bears should circle as undrafted targets
Shane Buechele (QB, SMU)
The son of a former Major League Baseball player, Buechele carved out a strong college career at SMU. He’s not overly big but he moves pretty well and throws the football with good accuracy both from the pocket and on the run. He seems to see the field well and rarely makes bad decisions with the football. The arm strength won’t wow people though.
Michael Strachan (WR, Charleston)
The one thing you can’t teach in life is size. Strachan has that at 6’4 along with a pair of strong hands and leaping ability. He dominated his level of competition in his last season with Charleston, going for over 1300 yards with 19 touchdowns. He is a menace in the red zone. Concerns with him center on a lack of true speed and lack of polish as a route runner.
A non-D1 player to watch for next season is Charleston’s Michael Strachan (@Mike_Playmaker). He moves a lot faster than a man of his height usually does and is a great jump ball receiver. Big thanks to @elevenbravo138 for bringing him to my attention. #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/B9uES2c8ov
— Jared Barsness (@JaredBarsNFL) May 19, 2020
Briley Moore-McKinney (TE, Kansas State)
One position the Chicago Bears may value more than other teams is the tight end/H-back. The role Trey Burton occupied in 2018. Somebody who can move around the field in a variety of roles, creating matchups as a pass catcher but also serve as a blocker in the run game. Moore-McKinney seems ideally suited for that position with his route-running skill and natural receiving talent.
Adrian Ealy (OT, Oklahoma)
His size, power, and footwork are all high caliber for a pro tackle. He’s also made strides with his overall technique. The big issue people have with him is a lack of bend and anchor. This makes him an easy target for pass rushers who can use leverage and strength to their advantage. Ealy has a reputation as a hard worker though. So this might be fixable.
Tavante Beckett LB#4 Marshall pic.twitter.com/sQ8klcQJae
— Los Cachorros NCAAF (@CachorrosNCAAF) January 24, 2021
Tavante Beckett (LB, Marshall)
There are some players out there who look like they don’t belong in the NFL but make it anyway. Why? A simple refusal to be denied. Beckett is that sort of player. Being 5’11 and not overly fast? That is a death sentence for most linebackers. Yet his excellent instincts, recognition, and passion allow him to make plays anyway. This guy is going to make a roster.
Tariq Thompson (S, San Diego State)
One thing that is impossible to teach for a defensive back is ball skills. Some guys just have an incredible knack for taking the football away. Thompson is one of those types. He had 12 interceptions in college. The problem? He’s not a runner. Speed isn’t his thing. Thompson overcomes that with quickness and instincts. So using him correctly will be vital.