Assessing Every Chicago Bears UDFA's Chances of Making Final Roster

The Chicago Bears drafted just six players earlier this month, but the team added 17 undrafted rookie free agents to their roster following the conclusion of the NFL draft.

The majority of those players were signed immediately after the draft concluded, but some had to earn their spot on the roster during last week's rookie minicamp.

The team's six draft picks should all make the roster out of training camp, but the 17 undrafted rookies will have to prove their worth during minicamps, training camp and the preseason. Many of the undrafted rookies will be cut, but some could be assigned to the practice squad or even make the 53-man roster.

Going from an undrafted free agent to being on a 53-man roster is not easy, but former Pro Bowlers like Arian Foster and Wes Welker have proved in the past that impact players can still be found outside of the draft's seven rounds.

Just ahead, we assess every Chicago Bears undrafted free agent's chances of making the team's final roster and project whether he will be cut, signed to the practice squad or make the final 53-man roster.

Jonathan Anderson began his career at TCU as a safety, but he eventually made the transition to linebacker his junior season. In four seasons with the Horned Frogs, Anderson registered 173 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception.  

According to NFLDraftScout.com, he ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at his pro day in March. He possesses good speed for the position, but he struggles moving laterally and will have to improve his anticipation at the next level.

He could be a developmental project for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio at inside linebacker because of his size (6'1", 231 lbs), but Anderson lacks the overall instincts to be an effective NFL player.

Prediction: Cut

The Bears did not select any cornerbacks in this year's draft, but they did sign a handful of undrafted cornerbacks, including East Central University's Qumain Black.

At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Black possesses good size for the position, but he spent his entire career going up against Division II competition. In an interview with Scott Porter of NewEraScouting.com, Black explained why he deserves an opportunity in the NFL.

"Because I’m hungry I really want this," Black told Porter. "I play this game not just for myself but for my family and my community, and I know if given the opportunity to play in this league the team that takes me will not be disappointed."

According to NFLDraftScout.com, Black ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at his pro day in March, but he will need a stellar training camp in order to stick with the team in 2015.

Prediction: Cut

Black may have a hard time making Chicago's roster or practice squad, but Rice's Bryce Callahan has as good a shot as anyone to make the roster out of training camp.

In four years at Rice, he registered 145 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 13 interceptions, including six in his freshman year.

Heading into the draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller listed Callahan as the 30th-best cornerback in this year's draft and labeled the former Owl as a sleeper. "Bryce Callahan has sleeper potential," Miller wrote. "He's active, with good feet and good hips to mirror and run with receivers on various routes."

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein had Callahan pegged as a fifth- or sixth-round pick, but he felt the young cornerback still had a ways to go with his development.

"Cover corner who is lacking the play strength to handle NFL receivers on the outside and can be mismatched from the slot against physical players," Zierlein wrote in his scouting report. "Suspect run support will make playing in the slot tough as well."

Callahan is an athletic cornerback who possesses a lot of the necessary tools to be successful in the NFL, but he needs to refine his technique in order to be considered a reliable option at the next level.

Prediction: Practice squad

The Bears opted not to draft a quarterback earlier this month, but general manager Ryan Pace knows competent quarterbacks can be found in the undrafted free-agent market, saying, according to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com:

I think it’s a good idea to add a quarterback every year. Sometimes that’s going to be in the upper rounds. Sometimes that might be later rounds or college free agency. I played with Tony Romo at Eastern Illinois so I know what you can do in college free agency there. I think it’s a critical position and because of that you can take a swing every year at it to increase your odds.

Once the draft concluded, the Bears struck quickly and signed East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden.

“He was actually a guy that we had good grades on, a guy that could have potentially been a draft pick,” head coach John Fox said, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. “Our scouts, obviously, saw a lot more of him than the coaching staff. But he was productive, smart."

In three seasons with the Pirates, Carden threw for 11,991 yards with 86 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He shows poise in the pocket and was productive in college, but he displays poor mechanics when throwing the football. He relies more on his arm than his footwork, and he will need to refine his mechanics this offseason in order to stick with the team.

Jimmy Clausen will head into the regular season as the backup to Jay Cutler at quarterback, leaving Carden to compete with 2014 sixth-round pick David Fales and journeyman Pat Devlin for the No. 3 quarterback spot.

If he can improve his mechanics, he has a chance to begin the season on Chicago's practice squad.

Prediction: Practice squad

Veteran kicker Robbie Gould made just nine of his 12 field-goal attempts in 2014, but he should remain the team's kicker in 2015.

To give the 33-year-old kicker a break this offseason, the team signed Toledo's Jeremiah Detmer after the draft. In four seasons with the Rockets, Detmer completed 65 of his 77 field-goal attempts and made 145 of his 151 extra-point attempts.

Unless he blows away the coaching staff in training camp, Detmer will be shown the door before the season begins.

Prediction: Cut

Following a solid sophomore season at Central Florida, cornerback Jacoby Glenn decided to enter the 2015 draft.

Prior to the draft, Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com projected Glenn to go in the fifth round, and Brugler logged a glowing scouting report for the former Knight:

Good height and length for the position with room to get stronger. Aggressively drives on the ball in front of him and arrives with top-shelf competitiveness. Physical wrap tackler and does a nice job getting the ballcarrier on the ground. Very active in run support and not afraid of contact. Reads the eyes of the quarterback, tracking and coming off his man to make the play.

Has plus ballskills and uses every inch of his frame and length to get his hands on the ball with timing and forceful attitude. Highly productive the past two years with 35 passes defended and 10 turnovers (seven interceptions, three forced fumbles), starting 25 games and collecting a number of accolades.

Glenn ran a disappointing 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, but he demonstrates good technique and could thrive in the NFL as a nickelback if given the opportunity. He is still just 21 years old and has a lot of room to grow from a technique standpoint.

If he can prove his worth on special teams this offseason, he stands a good chance of making the team's opening-day roster.

Prediction: 53-man roster

Chad Hamilton spent part of his career at Coastal Carolina as a tackle, but he will likely move inside to guard or center because of his size (6'2", 292 lbs) in the NFL.

Zierlein listed Hamilton as a potential sixth- or seventh-round pick, writing:

Outstanding athlete who dominated the competition on the FCS level with athleticism and sound technique. Hamilton's lack of length could force him inside and once there, he must prove he's strong enough to handle himself. His athleticism and steady technical work might put him ahead of the curve as far as zone-running teams are concerned and his best position could well be center if he's able to snap it.

The Bears added veteran center Will Montgomery in free agency and drafted Oregon center Hroniss Grasu in the third round, but Hamilton could potentially move inside to guard this offseason.

He lacks experience against top-level competition, but he could earn a spot on the practice squad out of training camp because of his athleticism and versatility.

Prediction: Practice squad

The Bears have struggled to find a long-term solution at safety for the better part of the last decade, and UCLA's Anthony Jefferson has an opportunity to grab a spot on Chicago's roster with a strong showing this offseason.

The team added veteran Antrel Rolle in free agency and drafted Penn State's Adrian Amos in the fifth round to help solidify the position, but Jefferson has an outside chance of making the 53-man roster if he can prove his worth on special teams.

He is not overly athletic, but he is a smart safety who has a nose for the football and is a solid tackler. He has the ability to match up with tight ends in the passing game, but he will struggle with quick wide receivers and running backs.

Jefferson is not the flashiest name on this list, but he could help provide a spark on special teams if he gets the chance.

Prediction: Practice squad

A three-year starter at UNLV, tackle Cameron Jefferson transferred to Arkansas last season. While at UNLV he played both tackle positions and guard, but he played guard for the Razorbacks last season.

At the time, Arkansas head coach Brett Bielema was excited to add Jefferson to his squad.

"We're thrilled to add Cameron Jefferson to the Razorback football program," said Bielema, according to Doc Harper of ArkansasFight.com. "He comes from a football family with his father playing in the NFL and he worked his way into becoming an anchor for the line at UNLV. We look forward to seeing the impact he will have at Arkansas."

According to NFLDraftScout.com, Jefferson is listed at 6'5" and 317 pounds, but he will likely have a hard time making the roster as a guard with Kyle Long, Matt Slauson, Ryan Groy, Michael Ola and Vladimir Ducasse already on the roster.

Prediction: Cut

Earlier this offseason, the Bears signed former Kansas City Chiefs long snapper Thomas Gafford to a one-year deal, but the team added Old Dominion long snapper Rick Lovato after the draft concluded.

According to Mayer, Lovato did not miss a game during his four-year career.

"There's no room for error. It's all about being perfect every single time," Lovato said about the position, according to Steve Edelson of the Asbury Park Press. "In college I had right around 430 long snaps, and I had a select few that didn't go my way, but none caused a huge problem. I never snapped it over the punter's head. I never had one that just rolled back or anything like that."

Gafford is a proven veteran, but if he struggles, Lovato could push for his job in training camp.

Prediction: Cut

Cameron Meredith began his collegiate career at Illinois State University as a quarterback before making the transition to wide receiver his junior season.

According to GoRedBirds.com, Meredith hauled in 66 passes for 1,061 yards with nine touchdowns last season, and ISU coach Brock Spack praised the young receiver prior to the draft.

“Cam is a really good athlete,” Spack said, according to Bryan Bloodworth of WJBC.com. “He has a really good upside because he hasn’t played receiver very long. His catch radius is really ridiculous.”

The Bears appear to be set at the top of the depth chart at wide receiver with Alshon Jeffery, first-round pick Kevin White and Eddie Royal, but Meredith has a chance to push guys like Joshua Bellamy, John Chiles and Rashad Lawrence in training camp for one of the last spots on the roster.

If he can contribute in the preseason on special teams as either a return man or as a gunner, he has a chance to stick on the practice squad.

Prediction: Practice squad

In four years at Baylor, wide receiver Levi Norwood hauled in 128 passes for 1,626 yards and 11 touchdowns. His best season came in 2013 when he registered 733 yards on 47 catches with eight touchdowns, but his play declined last season.

As a senior in 2014, Norwood registered just 35 catches for 319 yards with two touchdowns and was pushed down the depth chart to make room for younger players.

His best chance to the make the roster will come in the return game. In his career, he returned 64 punts for 559 yards with two touchdowns and returned 38 kickoffs for 768 yards, but according to NFL.com, he only registered a 4.57 40-yard dash at his pro day.

While he was able to offset his lack of speed in the return game with his shiftiness and footwork at Baylor, he will struggle to be an effective return man in the NFL.

Prediction: Cut

The Bears selected Florida State nose tackle Eddie Goldman in the second round of the draft to help plug up the middle in Chicago's new 3-4 defense, and they added another stout defensive lineman once the draft concluded in Miami's Olsen Pierre.

In four seasons with the Hurricanes, Pierre registered 63 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Last season he finished with a career-high 32 tackles.

He is listed at 6'5" and 300 pounds, and despite spending much of his career at Miami as a defensive tackle, he could potentially move outside to the 5-technique defensive end position in Fangio's scheme.

"He can maintain his ground and is decent at staking his claim as a two­-gapping 3-­4 defensive end, but when he's asked to play on the move, he loses effectiveness and play strength," Zierlein wrote in his scouting report. "With little to offer as a pass-rusher, he'll have to get even stronger and become a plus run­-stopper to have a shot."

As it currently stands, the only players currently on Chicago's roster who have played the 5-technique in a 3-4 defense are Ray McDonald, Jarvis Jenkins and Jeremiah Ratliff. If Pierre can improve his flexibility, he could be viewed as a project at defensive end for defensive line coach Jay Rodgers.

Prediction: Practice squad

In four seasons at Washington, inside linebacker John Timu registered 328 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, six interceptions and scored two defensive touchdowns.

Miller listed Timu as the 21st-best linebacker in this year's draft, writing:

John Timu is built like an NFL linebacker and comes game-ready as a coverage linebacker. He moves very well in space and has the feet to transition and change direction on the go. He'll flash run-stopping skills and can fill gaps well. Mike Holmgren selected Timu as a captain at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He was often asked to flex out and cover slot receivers and has the agility to survive in short areas. Timu is an arm tackler, but he's productive there.

He is athletic and smart, but he is not very fast (he ran a 4.80 40-yard dash at his pro day, via NFLDraftScout.com) and struggles when forced to chase the ball-carrier. He is an aggressive linebacker who understands his role, but he struggles to react to plays in front of him and will need to improve his anticipation.

Timu has the potential to develop into a special teams contributor, but the Bears already have a bevy of inside linebackers on the roster in Mason Foster, Jon Bostic, Shea McClellin, Christian Jones, Jonathan Brown and DeDe Lattimore.

Prediction: Cut

As it currently stands, the Bears have eight tight ends on the roster, including Alabama's Brian Vogler.

Vogler was used primarily as a blocker in Alabama's offense, but he did haul in 17 catches for 125 yards with two touchdowns in four seasons.

He is 6'7" and weighs 263 pounds, and he does a nice job of gaining leverage in the running game, but he struggles in pass protection because of his lack of athleticism. 

Vogler knows he is not going to come in and be a starter, but he thinks he can find a role in the NFL.

"Right now, [teams said] it's just sort of being that guy that can back up somebody, provide help on special teams and just sort of be an extra blocker out there," Vogler said at his pro day, via Matt Zenitz of AL.com. "It's sort of the dying breed of the Y-tight end. Just trying to go out there and find a role as that on somebody's team."

Vogler has potential, but it is going to be difficult for him to beat out veterans like Dante Rosario, Zach Miller and Bear Pascoe for a spot on the roster.

Prediction: Cut

East Carolina's Terry Williams went undrafted after having a productive career for the Pirates, but he participated in Chicago's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis last weekend.

"My mindset was just to give it my all,” he said about the opportunity, according to Mayer. “I just wanted to leave here with no regrets. In my mind, I know I’m a good football player. I really feel like I can play in this league. I just took the tryout route."

He impressed the coaching staff and signed with the team over the weekend.

Williams is stout against the run and registered 125 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and three sacks in four seasons. While there are a lot of positives surrounding him on the field, Miller outlined some of Williams' negatives both on and off the field, writing:

Williams was suspended in 2013 for violation of team policy. He was also suspended in 2012 following a drug-related arrest. On the field, Williams’ lack of height will be an issue for many teams, and his ability to keep his weight in check will be, too. He looked much more effective when he played closer to 320 pounds than his ballooned weight of 353 pounds in 2014. Off the field, Williams is a big risk due to arrests, suspensions and his weight. On the field, he’s pretty impressive.

Williams understands some of the reasons why he went undrafted, telling Mayer:

I’m not going to say I was very surprised. I had some issues back in college and I’m not the tallest guy. I’m not the guy you see and say, ‘Man, he looks good.’ So I wasn’t surprised, but I was a little disappointed. At the same time, I just had a feeling I was going to get picked up by somebody and I was just hoping to get an opportunity and I’m blessed Chicago gave me that.

If he can put his off-the-field issues behind him, he has a chance to earn playing time this season at nose tackle for the Bears behind Goldman and Ratliff.

Prediction: 53-man roster

A four-year starter at Vanderbilt, Kyle Woestmann signed with the Bears after participating in the team's rookie minicamp as a tryout player.

He spent three seasons at defensive end for the Commodores before moving to outside linebacker last season. In four seasons he registered 100 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and forced five fumbles.

Woestmann talked about his playing style and his experience in minicamp after officially signing with the team on Monday.

“I’m not much of a finesse guy; I’m a little more of a brute physical-type player and I was just like, 'I'll show them who I am and what type of player I am and if I’m fortunate enough that they like what they see and want to keep me, then so be it,'" Woestmann said, according to Mayer. "So I guess I did something right."

According to NFLDraftScout.com, Woestmann stands 6'3" and weighs 253 pounds and ran a 5.01 40-yard dash at his pro day.

He proved to be an effective pass-rusher at Vanderbilt, but he is still relatively raw. If he can develop under outside linebackers coach Clint Hurtt, he could find a spot on Chicago's practice squad. 

Prediction: Practice squad

Statistical information courtesy of Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Combine numbers and measurables courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.

Roster information provided by the Chicago Bears via e-mail.

Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Follow @MattEurich