Bears Lead NFL with Four Undrafted Rookies on Initial Roster
The Chicago Bears kept four undrafted rookies on their initial 53-man roster, the most in the NFL. General manager Ryan Poles had never kept more than three before. Coach Ben Johnson credited the scouting department for finding players with strong character and football intelligence.
The Bears' four undrafted rookies—safety Skyler Thomas, long snapper Beau Gardner, defensive tackle Jayden Loving, and tight end Hayden Large—represent a franchise first under general manager Ryan Poles, whose previous high was three in 2022. That year's group included Jack Sanborn and Jaylon Jones, both of whom became contributors. Since then, only two undrafted rookies had cracked the initial roster.
Defensive tackle Jayden Loving drew particular praise from coach Ben Johnson, who noted his consistent application of technique and upbeat demeanor around the facility. Loving's athletic testing score of 9.93 out of 10 ranked just behind sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg's perfect 10.0, suggesting the scouting staff identified a player with measurable physical tools to complement his character.
This story could signal a shift in how NFL teams evaluate undrafted talent, as the Bears' success may encourage other franchises to invest more heavily in post-draft scouting. For fans and analysts, it raises questions about roster-building philosophy—whether quantity of undrafted players reflects drafting misses or genuine scouting depth. The emphasis on character and football intelligence could influence how college prospects are assessed league-wide, potentially reshaping draft boards and training camp competitions in coming years.