The Chicago Bears offseason roster churn continues.
In addition to their five-player draft class headlined by Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze (plus nine more players who were signed as undrafted free agents), the Bears have signed six free agents who were participants in the team’s rookie minicamp festivities.
A new batch of Chicago Bears rookies
John Jackson III, wide receiver — The Bears release notes that Jackson is a friend and former teammate of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Again, it’s nice to have friends in high places. Jackson played collegiately at USC (2020-22) before wrapping up his career for Nevada in 2023. His father, John, played five games with the Bears in 1996 and 31 games with the Phoenix Cardinals from 1990-92. I love when football is passed down from one generation to the next.
Leon Jones, cornerback — The Arkansas State product came up with 21 pass breakups in 32 games in his three seasons on campus after transferring from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Jones’ football background is fun to re-visit, especially since he was a quarterback who 23 total touchdowns (14 passing, 9 rushing) as a senior.
Dashaun Mallory, defensive tackle — The Bears’ defensive line is a work in progress. With that being said, I’m welcoming of anyone who could help in any fashion. Yes, I’m counting depth as being helpful. A suburban Bolingbrook High School graduate, Mallory played collegiately at Michigan State (2020-22) and Arizona State (2023). His best year came as a senior in 2023 when he came up with 48 total tackles, 2 sacks, and 10 tackles-for-loss in 12 games.
Paul Moala, linebacker — Moala played 48 games for Notre Dame (2018-21), Idaho (2022), and Georgia Tech (2023). That 2022 season (60 tackles, 7 tackles-for-loss, 4 interceptions in 12 games) in Idaho might’ve been his best. But he followed that up with 65 more tackles, another 11 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 sacks with Georgia Tech in 2023. The Bears struck gold with Jack Sanborn as a UDFA linebacker signing two years ago. Maybe they’ll catch lighting in a bottle again.
Other weekend additions by the Bears
Freddie Swain, wide receiver — Swain was one of two non-rookies who signed with the Bears after a minicamp tryout. The 25-year-old receiver was a Sith-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 and has 37 games of NFL experience. Swain crossed paths with Bears Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron while in Seattle, where he put up 25 catches, 343 yards, and 4 touchdowns in 2021. Sometimes, it is good to know a guy and I think familiarity helps Swain as he arrives in Chicago.
Tommy Sweeney, tight end — We discussed Sweeney’s addition in Sunday’s set of Bears Bullets:
Sweeney, 28, was in on a tryout this weekend and must’ve made a good impression. A seventh-round pick in 2019 by the Buffalo Bills, Sweeney has 18 catches, 165 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown in 24 games. Sweeney’s last full season game in 2021, a year in which he played 13 games and appeared on 30 percent of the offensive snaps.
Call it a hunch, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of the Bears’ offseason moves.
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