Undrafted free agency is an important part of the team-building process. From a pure numbers perspective, the NFL has to rely on undrafted free agents to compromise somewhere between a quarter and a third of all active players — not even counting practice squads. There were 257 players drafted last month and at least that many, probably more than 300, will be signed as undrafted free agents.  That makes undrafted free agency a potentially important source of talent. Ninety percent of these players will be cut and wash out of the NFL in a few years. But there will be a couple dozen who sti ..read more

Bears Bears CB Jaylon Johnson clarified his comments to first-round QB Caleb Williams before the draft about him being a “Hollywood” personality and said the two are on the same page. “I cleared the air and was like, ‘Hey, that wasn’t what it was supposed to be, I don’t know you,’” Johnson said, via PFT. “He hit me and was like, ‘Hey, I’m a winner, I just want to win.’ We had that conversation. I’m like it’s all good. Then I talked a little trash about Utah and USC, and it was all good.” Bears UDFA DT Keith Randolph signed for $220,000 in guarantees, including a $20,000 signing bonu ..read more

Cleared Waivers WR Kaden Davis (ARI) DB Quavin White (ARI) Bears Waived P Trenton Gill Giants Signed DB David Long Packers Received a roster exemption for international DT Kenneth Odumegwu Saints Signed DB Will Harris Steelers Signed DE Julius Welschof Received a roster exemption for DE Julius Welschof The post NFL Transactions: Wednesday 5/1 appeared first on NFLTradeRumors.co ..read more

The Chicago Bears have waived P Trenton Gill, per Field Yates. This doesn’t come as a big surprise, as the Bears just used a fourth-round pick on P Tory Taylor to supplant Gill.  Gill, 25, was drafted in the seventh round out of N.C. State by the Bears with the No. 255 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.  He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $3.7 million and including a $77,012 signing bonus.  In 2023, Gill appeared in all 17 games for the Bears and punted 67 times with an average of 46.1 yards per punt, eight touchbacks and 18 kicks placed inside the 20.  The post Bears Wa ..read more

Bears Aside from being the consensus top overall pick for more than a year, 2024 first-round QB Caleb Williams has a plethora of weapons players in his situation rarely have. Williams is very confident about his ability to perform immediately and isn’t hiding from any expectations. “What’s the reason to duck?” Williams said, via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “It’s here. There’s no reason to duck. I’m here. Rome [Odunze] is here. Keenan Allen, the top-five defense that we had last year, special teams, all the new roles — whatever. We’re here. I’m excited. I know everybody’s excited. The Bears fans ar ..read more

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Bears are signing Illinois DT Keith Randolph as an UDFA. Randolph, 22, was a three-star recruit out of Illinois in 2019 and committed to Illinois. He made his first start in 2021 and started 22 of 23 games in 2022 and 2023 while earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2023. In total, Randolph recorded 159 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one forced fumble, six passes defended and two interceptions. The post Bears Signing UDFA DT Keith Randolph appeared first on NFLTradeRumors.co ..read more

According to Tom Pelissero, the Bears are signing undrafted free agent QB Austin Reed following the draft. Reed, 24, began his college career at Southern Illinois before transferring to West Florida and then Western Kentucky. He was named the C-USA Newcomer of the Year and Second-team All-CUSA in 2022. In his six college seasons, Reed appeared in 52 games and has a record of 38-14 in those games. He completed 1,077 of his 1,211 passes (59.3 percent) for 14,488 yards, 138 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions. He also rushed 220 times for 636 yards (2.9 YPC) and 20 touchdowns. The post Bears Signin ..read more

Bears According to Todd McShay, the Bears could look to trade back from pick number nine to recover picks.  If they stay at nine, McShay feels they will take either Texas DT Byron Murphy II or the best available non-quarterback offensive player.  The “only caveat” per McShay is if Washington WR Rome Odunze or LSU WR Malik Nabers falls, the Bears will have an interest.  Buccaneers A source tells Tony Pauline that the Buccaneers are a team to watch for Marshawn Keeland in round one. Lions A source tells Tony Pauline that the Lions are a team to watch for Marshawn Keeland in r ..read more

According to Dianna Russini, the Bears are looking to trade its No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and are telling teams they are ready to make a move “for the right price.” Chicago is set to take Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall but only has three other picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including the No. 9, No. 75 in the third round, and No. 122 in the fourth.  We have the Bears taking Texas DT Byron Murphy II at No. 9 overall in one of our recent Mock Drafts, which would put them in prime position to make a trade with the Rams at No. 19. Los Angeles, reportedly, is eager to make a move ..read more

Bears Washington WR Rome Odunze would love to be drafted by Chicago and thinks he would add an extra element to their offense. “It would be explosive,” Odunze said, via PFT. “Honestly, there’s a lot of weapons on the field in that offense.” Cowboys When asked about the Cowboys not having any fourth-round picks, owner Jerry Jones said it’s “very likely” they’ll have an opportunity to gain more picks in the middle of the draft and they are monitoring the trade market to move in either direction.  “It’s very likely to have an opportunity to do that,” Jones said, via Nick Harris of the t ..read more