5 undrafted players to watch during rookie minicamp

This weekend the Bears’ brass will get their first opportunity to see the 11 rookies they drafted in action during rookie minicamp. 

Joining the 2022 draft class there are currently 37 other players scheduled to be at Halas Hall – either as undrafted free agents or minicamp tryouts. 

Of course, the main focus will be on how players like Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker and Velus Jones Jr. perform.

But there are also some other intriguing players Bears fans should know about. 

Here are five non-drafted players to keep tabs on throughout rookie minicamp. 

1. TE Chase Allen, Iowa State

You just have to follow the money sometimes to get an indication of how a team feels about an undrafted free agent. According to Aaron Wilson from Pro Football Network, Allen is getting $72,000 in guaranteed money, which is the most that has been reported among the UDFAs and tryout players. 

At 6-foot-6, 251 pounds, Allen played as the “Y” tight end for the Cyclones. He finished his last season at Iowa State with 26 receptions for 284 yards (which were both career highs) and two receiving touchdowns. 

Poles has mentioned before that he wanted his scouts to look for players that embody resiliency. Well, when Allen was a freshman at Iowa State, he was hit by a car and needed to be rushed to the E.R. – where he received 103 stitches. Still, Allen went on to play 59 games at Iowa State and finished his career with 74 total receptions for 810 yards and six touchdowns. He was also named First Team Academic All-Big 12 in each of his five seasons.

2. CB Allie Green, Missouri 

Another one of the undrafted players that reportedly got some guaranteed money is Green – who got a $5.5K bonus, according to Wilson. The former Missouri Tiger finished last season with 30 total tackles and four passes defenses in 11 games. 

Green started his career at Tulsa, where he played for four seasons before transferring to Missouri. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Green definitely incorporates his size and length into his style of play. He prefers to play physical at the line of scrimmage, jamming receivers to disrupt the timing of routes. 

And Green is someone who is more than a willing tackler. He won’t be able to showcase that trait in this rookie minicamp, with there being no pads, but he does need to show the Bears’ coaching staff that he can be consistent in man coverage while using his physicality to his advantage. 

3. WR Cyrus Holder, Duquesne 

When Holder is out on the practice fields at Halas Hall, he will be one of the tallest receivers. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound wideout caught 37 passes for 629 yards and eight touchdowns last season. 

There were many times where the Dukes’ offense isolated Holder on the outside and had him elevate over smaller cornerbacks. He also used his frame to box out defensive backs, which can be attributed to his time at Milford Academy in New York where he earned all-county honors in basketball. 

Like many of these undrafted free agents and tryout players, Holder will be fighting for a spot on the practice squad. Starting this season, teams will be allowed to have 14 players on the practice squad. 

4. RB Master Teague, Ohio State

Despite the fact that the Bears drafted running back Trestan Ebner, Chicago didn’t waste much time signing Justin Fields’ former teammate. Teague is a bigger back at 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds and finished his collegiate career with over 1,700 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.

Despite being bulkier than other backs, Teague possesses good explosiveness that allows him to cut and burst through a hole in a hurry. With his background in bodybuilding, Teague has the strength to bully his way for extra yardage, which has a lot of value on third down and in the red zone.

Teague suffered an Achilles injury in the spring of 2020 and was able to return to football in October that same year. Teague mentioned that the experience enabled him to grow as a person. His coaches also raved about his work ethic and how seriously Teague approached his rehab. Don’t forget that Fields saw that firsthand too.

Teague enters a crowded running back room, which is nothing new. At Ohio State, he shared duties with current Baltimore Raven J.K. Dobbins and San Francisco 49er Trey Sermon.

5. S Amari Carter, Miami

Carter is one of the most physical safeties to come out of college this year. He is always looking to make the big-time hit on the ball carrier. He brings a lot of experience with 48 games played over five seasons where he racked up 173 total tackles, 9.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and six passes defensed.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound former Hurricane needs to prove that he can reign in his aggression as there were too many times he was called for either targeting or unnecessary roughness. However, the Bears will like that he is a sure tackler that can be used inside the box in a hybrid linebacker role.

He won’t be able to demonstrate his aggression during minicamp without any pads on, therefore, Carter will need to prove that he can pick up the playbook and understand his assignments to make a good first impression as he begins his journey towards potentially making the practice squad.