Shaq Roland - Pro Football Rumors

Bears Sign LB Kasim Edebali

June 7th, 2018 at 4:53pm CST by Ben Levine

After having played for four teams in 2017, free agent Kasim Edebali has found a home for 2018. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the linebacker has signed with the Bears. The team has also waived defensive back Tyrin Holloway and wide receiver Shaq Roland.

The 2014 undrafted free agent out of Boston College had spent the first three seasons of his career with the Saints, where he played under Chicago’s current general manager, Ryan Pace. Edebali didn’t miss a regular season game during his tenure in New Orleans, and he compiled eight sacks in three years. The 28-year-old bounced around the league in 2017, spending time with the Broncos, Lions, Rams, and Saints. He ended up appearing in 13 total games, compiling a single tackle.

Edebali will be fighting for a backup gig in Chicago. First-rounder Roquan Smith and former first-round pick Leonard Floyd are slotted in as the starters, with Sam Acho, Aaron Lynch, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, and Jonathan Anderson all competing for reps.

Bears Bring In 16 UDFAs

May 12th, 2018 at 6:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears recently announced their undrafted free agent haul. Fifteen players will attempt to stick with the team this offseason. Here’s the full rundown:

Dejon Allen, OL (Hawaii)
Abdullah Anderson, DL (Bucknell)
Rashard Fant, DB (Indiana)
Garrett Johnson, WR (Kentucky)
Michael Joseph, CB (Dublique)
Jeremi Hall, G (South Florida)
Nyles Morgan, LB (Notre Dame)
Ryan Nall, RB (Oregon State)
Elijah Norris, LB (Shepherd)
Nick Orr, S (TCU)
Shaq Roland, WR (West Georgia)
Bunmi Rotimi, DE (Old Dominion)
Kevin Toliver II, CB (LSU)
Andrew Trumbetti, LB (Notre Dame)
Cavon Walker, DL (Maryland)
Ryan Winslow, P (Pittsburgh)

This haul continues Chicago’s restocking of its linebacking corps, with this quartet vying to join Roquan Smith, fourth-rounder Joel Iyiegbuniwe and UFA addition Aaron Lynch. Interestingly, the Bears have added two members from recent Fighting Irish linebacker rooms in Morgan and Trumbetti. The former had a bigger role, making 91 tackles last season — second-most on the team. Morgan, who also made 88 stops as a junior, underwent shoulder surgery in January.

Nick Orr is Zach Orr‘s younger brother. He was a three-year starter for the Horned Frogs; the now-retired Zach also arrived in the NFL as a UDFA. Roland took three years off of football after being a highly touted South Carolina recruit in 2011. He played three years for the Gamecocks before taking the 2014, ’15 and ’16 seasons off prior to playing at West Georgia last year. Toliver was also an acclaimed high school recruit, coming into LSU as a five-star prospect.

The only player in Oregon State history with three carries for at least 75 yards, Nall was listed at 237 pounds with the Beavers but still averaged nearly seven yards per carry in 2016 (on 147 carries en route to 13 touchdowns). The Bears re-signed incumbent punter Pat O’Donnell, but only to a one-year deal, potentially opening the door for Winslow.