Chicago Bears: 3 UDFAs who could make an immediate impact

Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State

After not addressing the position in the draft, tight end stands tall as an obvious need for the Chicago Bears. Trey Burton stood out as a strong starter in Matt Nagy’s offense last season, but there is little to speak of at the position behind him. Adam Shaheen has not shown much during his two-year career and Ben Braunecker is simply a depth piece. There is a real opportunity for a tight end to come in and take a roster spot.

The Bears have signed three undrafted tight ends since the draft; Ian Bunting out of Cal, Ellis Richardson out of Georgia Southern and Utah State’s Dax Raymond. Each player will have a chance to make his mark and force his way on to the roster, but it is Raymond who stands out as the most likely choice.

Raymond is a big and relatively athletic player who has some nice upside for the next level. He shows enough speed to stretch the middle of the field, catches the ball well in traffic and can create after the catch. His blocking skills are underdeveloped, but Raymond’s mobility and power give him a chance to succeed in that area at the next level. On top of that, he has the fluid athleticism that should translate well to special teams.

Raymond is far from a sure thing, but he is an interesting tight end prospect who I could see making an impact with the Chicago Bears. They undoubtedly need depth at the position and Raymond has the skills to be a legitimate playmaker.