CONFIRMED: Bears offer $220,000 in guarantees to sign undrafted rookie defensive tackle.
Keith Randolph Jr. will sign with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024, and he will receive a significant sum of guaranteed money.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, the Bears have signed the former Illinois defensive tackle to a three-year undrafted rookie contract worth $220,000 in guaranteed money. Randolph will get a $20,000 signing bonus, with $200,000 of his base salary with the organization guaranteed.
Randolph has played 29 games at defensive lineman for the Illini over the last three seasons, totaling 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and an interception in his best season in 2022. At 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds, he is a terrific size for the interior and carries himself effectively against the run, but lacking the quick-twitch tools to succeed as a pass rusher.
While Randolph’s guaranteed money does not promise him a spot on the Bears’ 53-man roster for the 2024 season, he might have the strongest case to make the team among this year’s batch of undrafted rookie signings. The Bears have three solid locks for the interior of their defensive line — Gervon Dexter Sr., Andrew Billings and Zacch Pickens — but the fourth spot in the rotation remains up for grabs heading into OTs next month
The Bears also have veteran Byron Cowart (2024 free agent signing) and second-year Michael Dwumfour (practice squad holdover) battling for rotation spots.
As of March 29, the Bears had not announced any UDFA signings for the 2024 offseason. However, it took them six days after last year’s draft to do this.
Keith Randolph Jr. piqued Bears’ interest before the draft.
The Bears had expressed interest in Randolph during the pre-draft process. He told The Draft Network that he spoke with the team via Zoom after the 2024 NFL Combine in early March. The Belleville, Illinois native also participated in Chicago’s local pro day as a player from an in-state school, removing the need for a top 30 visit.
Before the draft, Randolph had been expected to come off the board on Day 3. He had limited athleticism and more room to grow than the class’ other tackles, but he proved to be a sure-fired tackler during his time at Illinois and presented reasonable upside. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected he could be a sixth- or seventh-round selection.
It is possible the Bears would have considered taking Randolph in that range if they had traded back and acquired additional late-round picks. Instead, they are getting a chance to invest in Randolph’s upside without having to spend a draft pick.
Chicago has found at least one roster-worthy undrafted free agent in each of the last two offseasons (middle linebacker Jack Sanborn in 2022 and quarterback Tyson Bagent in 2023). Randolph could be the next UDFA success story.
Bears also pay $100,000 to sign Canadian rookie OT.
Randolph has the most guaranteed salary (according to available reports) of any of the Bears’ undrafted rookies, although he is not the only one.
According to Wilson, the Bears are offering $100,000 in guaranteed money to University of British Columbia offensive tackle Theo Benedet, another UDFA signing. He will receive a $20,000 signing bonus and a $80,000 portion of his salary guaranteed.
Benedet, like Randolph, is not a cinch to make the roster or practice squad in 2024 because to his guarantees, but he is another fascinating prospect who might compete for a depth slot on the team next season. The Bears return both of their starting tackles — Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright — and added two more players in free agency (Matt Pyror) and the draft (third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie), but Larry Borom’s rising cap hit could force him out and open the door for Benedet to compete.
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