Looking at the First Wave of Undrafted Free Agents the Bears Signed After the 2018 NFL Draft

The 2018 NFL Draft has come and gone, but the talent acquisition process rolls on. Every offseason unearths diamond-in-the-rough types who passed up in every draft, only to show out for a team after being signed as an undrafted free agents.

Most of these players come and go without much fanfare. Others land on the practice squad. But names like Cameron Meredith, Cre’von LeBlanc, Bryce Callahan, and Roy Robertson-Harris come to mind as players who grew into contributors after signing with the Bears as undrafted free agents.

Here is an initial look at the first wave of UDFA signees who are headed to the Bears:

  • OL Dejon Allen, Hawaii
  • DL Abdullah Anderson, Bucknell
  • CB Rashard Fant, Indiana
  • WR Garrett Johnson, Kentucky
  • CB Michael Joseph, Dubuque
  • LB TJ McCollum, Purdue
  • LB Nyles Morgan, Notre Dame
  • RB Ryan Nall, Oregon State
  • LB Elijah “EJ” Norris, Shephard
  • S Nick Orr, TCU
  • DL Bunmi Rotimi, Old Dominion
  • CB Kevin Toliver, LSU
  • DE Andrew Trumbetti, Notre Dame
  • LB/EDGE Cavon Walker, Maryland
  • P Ryan Winslow, Pittsburgh
  • K Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky (rookie minicamp tryout)
  • CB Tafon Mainsah, Richmond (rookie minicamp tryout
  • QB Bryan Schor, James Madison (rookie minicamp tryout)
  • Last year’s class had a handful of players who were called up and played meaningful snaps during the regular season. Nose tackle (and future offensive lineman) Rashaad Coward and wide receiver Tanner Gentry played on the Bears last season and offensive lineman Dieugot Joseph was poached by the Baltimore Ravens.

    Maybe someone from the class of 2018 can pop up and make a few plays this season. And if it happens, it will because that player was able to play themselves onto the team.

    written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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