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Chicago Bears best undrafted classes have something in common

By Erik Lambert

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Bryce Callahan #37 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball for a 59 yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Bryce Callahan #37 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball for a 59 yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bears have a mixed history when it comes to undrafted free agency. Like any team, they have their share of huge successes, but also inconsistency.

One could argue the franchise hasn’t taken that part of the offseason as serious as others over the years. Their focus tends to be geared more towards veteran free agency and the draft. This isn’t an uncommon practice. Several teams have the same philosophy. The problem most of the ones who fully embrace it tend to have a lot of success on the field. Teams like New England, Denver, Dallas, and Philadelphia.

What makes it all the more frustrating is that when the Bears do score their share of hits, it tends to help them towards more victories. So why don’t they make a more concerted effort? Well, technically they have. Over the past few years, they’ve turned up the heat on luring and signing undrafted players. The key question that comes with this though is does it matter? Recent data helps to shed some light.

Chicago Bears undrafted success has a common theme in the past decade

Time and again it’s been proven that the obsession over draft picks can be misplaced and inflated. That’s because so many who end up hearing their names get called will be replaced by one who didn’t. A huge chunk of NFL rosters is made up of undrafted players. Many of whom have gone on to considerable success including Phillip Lindsay, Taysom Hill, Corey Littleton, Aldrick Rosas, Tyrell Williams, Malcolm Butler, Adrian Phillips, and Andrew Norwell in just the past five years.

Yet most seem to treat it as nothing more than a crap shoot. Roll the dice and hope you get lucky. Is that true or is there a way to at least be given favorable odds of landing some good players? Based on the Bears’ recent history, there is. It’s crude but also simple.

2018 class (12 players)

  • Kevin Toliver

2017 class (12 players)

  • Isaiah Irving

2016 class (11 players)

  • Roy Robertson-Harris
  • Ben Braunecker

2015 class (15 players)

  • Bryce Callahan
  • Cameron Meredith
  • Olsen Pierre
  • John Timu

2014 class (9 players)

  • Christian Jones

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2013 class (10 players)

  • Tress Way
  • Demontre Hurst

2012 class (11 players) 

  • Brittan Golden

2011 class (26 players)

  • Mario Addison
  • Spencer Lanning
  • Dom DeCicco
  • Dane Sanzenbacher

2010 class (12 players)

  • N/A

2009 class (13 players)

  • N/A

2008 class (11 players)

  • Caleb Hanie

See the correlation yet? If you didn’t, don’t worry about it. The clear consensus to be drawn here is the bigger the undrafted class, the greater likelihood a team has of scoring hits. The two biggest classes the Bears have had in the past decade came in 2015 and 2011. Those yielded Mario Addison and Bryce Callahan. Addison has 45.5 sacks in his career including nine last season. Callahan is viewed as one of the best nickel corners in the NFL today.

Why is this so significant? Expectations are that this could end up being a year GM Ryan Pace signs more undrafted players than normal. It is in large part due to the Bears having limited cap space, only five draft picks, and 42 roster slots to fill. That could mean the Bears offer greater opportunities to undrafted players, and history shows this can yield favorable results for the future.

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