Chicago Bears: 11 UDFAs the Bears Should Target Post-Lockout

Usually by now, there isn't much talk about undrafted free agents other than the ones your specific team has already signed.

But this year is different.

With the lockout negating the ability of teams to sign UDFAa for the time being, those signings a topic of discussion even now, well into July.

There is always some talent to be found in the the ranks of the undrafted.  Pro Bowl kicker Robbie Gould was an undrafted free agent, as were Israel Idonije, Kahlil Bell, Lance Louis and Caleb Hanie, all of who saw at least some playing time last year.

With so many holes to fill this off-season, the Bears will look to some UDFAs for help.  Here are some of the names they should be targeting out of the gates once the lockout ends.

Chas Henry, P, Florida

Henry was expected to be drafted late as the top punter available.  But he wasn't snagged and that makes the top punter in the draft available for the Bears in free agency.

Brad Maynard has been a fantastic punter for Chicago for years, but his leg is getting old and he's a free agent this year.

Henry was among ten semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award—given to the top punter in college football—in 2008, among 3 finalist in 2009 and won the award in 2010.

He has a great leg, averaging 45.1 yards per punt in 2010, including a 75 yard punt.  He also has experience filling in as the emergency kicker.  That led to the photo you see here, where he was carried off the field after kicking the game-winning 37-yarder to beat rival Georgia.

Henry could add the leg the Bears need to replace the venerable Maynard for years to come.

Derrick Locke, RB, Kentucky

Let's face it.  Chester Taylor didn't cut it last year.

Some of that was due to misuse, but some of it was due to age and decline.

Enter the 5'8" 188lb Derrick Locke.  Locke was expected to go in the fifth to sixth rounds of the draft, but fell in the draft due to his spinal injury history.  Had Angelo wasted a draft pick on this kid, I would have been leading the pitchfork crowd.  

But bringing him in as a UDFA to compete with Taylor would suit me just fine.  He played after the injury, so he has a chance.  He has 4.37 40 speed and can run well and catch well.  He's also a leader and a team player.

The kid is worth taking a chance on, especially as a UDFA.

Chris Stewart, OG, Notre Dame

It's no secret that the Bears need help at guard.  Chris Stewart could be that guy.

He was a fantastic run blocker at Notre Dame, and did a fine job pass-blocking, as well.  He has good speed and a pretty decent burst of the line.  And he has the size that the Bears like, coming in at 6'5" and 318lbs  with room to grow.

But he could use some time in the weight room.  He only put up 24 reps at Notre Dame's Pro Day and he has been known to be overtaken by bull-rushers on occasion.

That is a correctable issue, and the fact that he has had to rely on his technique over his strength is actually a bonus, as weight training is easier to learn than technique.

Stewart could very well make the final roster if the Bears snatched him up.

Darrin Walls, CB, Notre Dame

A second Golden-Domer makes the list.

Darren Walls would help to add depth and possibly a future starter to the Bears roster at corner.

Walls has some of the qualities the Bears like in a corner.  He has good coverage skills, especially in zone, doesn't shy away from contact and is a good tackler and he has 4.42 speed.  He led the Irish in passes defended and while not a ball-hawk, did record one interception.

The Bears would need to develop Walls, but he has the raw skill to eventually be a good depth option for Chicago

Jeff Tarpinian, ILB, Iowa

Jeff Tarpinian was moving up draft boards in early April and the fact that he wasn't drafted was kind of surprising.  Estimated as a sixth rounder, Tarpinian could be the LB the Bears are looking for to fit into a suddenly shallow linebacker corps.

Hunter Hillenmeyer was released. Nick Roach, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Rod Wilson and Brian Iwuh are all free agents.  That leaves Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs as the only linebackers still on contract in Chicago.

Some of those names will, of course, be re-signed.  But there will be spots to fill.

Tarpinian is a good linebacker with good size at 6'2" and 235lbs and with 4.56 40 speed.  He's decent in coverage, but not spectacular.

All around, Jake is a solid but not great linebacker who could provide needed depth in Chicago, especially at the SAM spot.

Bryant Browning, OG, Ohio State

Browning is a vicious blocker.  He has a mean streak that doesn't quit and he won the Top Ten Tenacious Award four times.  And he was on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy

He fits the Bears theme of "big, athletic linemen", but he does struggle at times with speed-rushers.

He's raw, which is what you would expect from a UDFA.  But he has a great attitude and the raw skills to make the team, at least on the practice squad.  

The inability to show his stuff at OSU's Pro Day due to a hamstring injury likely kept him off draft boards, but the kid could end up being a valuable asset.

Ricardo Lockette, WR, Fort Valley State

Ricardo Lockette would fill a big need in Chicago, giving them a big fast option for Cutler.  He also fills the small school option for Jerry Angelo.

But seriously, Lockette runs a 4.3 40 and it translates to the field.  Combine that with his 6'2" 211lb frame and you see why a lot of teams are interested.

But he is very raw and has inconsistent hands.

Still, he is exactly the type of receiver that Mike Martz likes and if properly trained, could be a star.  He's worth a camp look, anyways.

Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina

Williams is coming of surgery to repair a broken fibula.  That, along with his four game suspension for receiving extra benefits, had a lot to do with him not being drafted.  

But make no mistake, Williams has draft worthy skills, and were there not questions following the surgery, Williams would have been drafted.

He's a ball-hawking safety with very good coverage skills, 4.5 40 speed and good size at 6'2" and 205lbs.  He's the Tarheels third all-time leading interceptor with 12, and even missing four games, Deunta was the teams sixth leading tackler in 2010.

Will the injury affect his play in the future?  There's no telling without checking him out.  But it sure would suck to find out that he recovered fully while watching him tear it up for another team.

With Danieal Manning looking like he could be leaving and Craig Steltz and Josh Bullocks both being free agents that will not likely be resigned, the Bears would do well to grab up this talented UDFA.

Jake Vermiglio, OT/OG, North Carolina State

Vermiglio is a mean SOB of an offensive linemen.  A 6'4" 323lb tackle at North Carolina State, he was expected to move to guard in the NFL.

He is a good all around blocker with excellent athleticism.  He's also raw as hell, but the Bears like their young linemen that way.  They want line coach Mike Tice to mold them in his image.

Vermiglio was an honorable mention All-ACC linemen in 2010, and he has the raw skill set, size and athleticism to work his way onto the roster in Chicago.

He'll need a lot of coaching and some time in the weight room, but if there is a guard among the UDFAs that could really end up making something out of an opportunity, I think it's this guy.

Mario Harvey, ILB, Marshall

Urlacher isn't getting any younger.  And as we saw last year, the Bears have nobody in place to fill the void if 'Lach should go down to injury.

Marshall's Mario Harvey has the potential to be that guy.  

Harvey is fast, registering a 4.46 40 at Marshall's Pro Day, instinctive and smart.  He's always around the ball, registering 117 tackles last year to go with 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks.  He's high motor, and his nickname is "Thumper", so take a guess at how he hits.

He's not bad in coverage, either, which is a must for a Chicago MLB.

The biggest problem with Harvey is his height, standing just 5'11".  But given his talent, the Bears should give some serious consideration to seeing what this kid can offer.

Terrance Toliver, WR, Louisiana State

In early April, Toliver was graded as early as the third round of the NFL draft.  But the 6'4", 212-pound wideout inexplicably fell completely out of the draft.

Bears fans were shouting for Toliver on boards all across the Internet before the draft and during, especially as Chicago was making it's fifth-round picks and on.

Toliver impressed NFL guru Gil Brandt at his Pro Day, with Brandt noting that the young wideout's 4.54 40 came while Terrence pulled his hamstring.  But Toliver pulled himself together to run position drills and caught everything thrown his way. He posted good all-around numbers at both the combine and his Pro Day.

The Bears sorely need a big target for Cutler, and Terrance has the size, speed and skills to fill that need.

It was unlucky for Toliver that he fell out of the draft, but his misfortune could end up being the Bears lucky day.

Toliver should be the top target of Chicago when they start signing undrafted free agents.

Alright, now it's your turn.  Like someone I didn't mention?  Hate somebody that I did mention?  Climb onto the soapbox below, known as the comment thread, and give us your thoughts!