Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles ended Saturday with 11 newly draft players, but that wasn’t enough to fill his roster needs.
So he set out to add more depth to the team by signing a number of undrafted free agents.
Poles said he wanted his staff to sell players on being able to compete for opportunities.
“It is a crazy process,” he said. “They’re up there scrambling right now and doing a really good job. This is probably the best process — the way we started this tonight after the draft — that I’ve been a part of. Very organized. Using technology to stay connected and linked up while being in different rooms so you don’t have the noise and people scrambling and screaming. It is a crazy time.
“But I will guarantee you there will be some guys from this undrafted free agent process that are going to develop and be good players.”
Here’s a list of players who are joining the Bears via UDFA contracts or rookie minicamp tryouts, based on reports from the players, schools and others.
Offensive linemen
Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington
Wide receivers
Landon Lenoir, Southern Illinois
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Christian Albright, Ball State
Ezekiel Barnett, Louisiana Tech
Defensive backs
Specialists
Matt Coghlin, kicker, Michigan State
Antonio Ortiz, long snapper, TCU
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