Bears Predicted to Cut Veteran Pass Rusher in Favor of UDFA
Dominique Robinson is likely on the roster bubble for the Chicago Bears heading into the 2024 season, and one analyst and insider following the team believes Robinson will get cut in favor of an undrafted free agent.
In his latest 53-man roster projection, Josh Schrock of NBC Sports has the Bears choosing rookie UDFA Keith Randolph Jr. over Dom Rob.
“On the interior, I’m going to give the final spot to undrafted rookie Keith Randolph Jr. The Bears need another body at defensive tackle, and Randolph might be their best option,” Schrock wrote on June 25.
“Dominique Robinson will enter camp on the bubble and must show significant improvement to make the 53.”
What Can Keith Randolph Jr. Offer the Bears That Dominique Robinson Can’t?
The Bears signed Randolph as an UDFA out of the University of Illinois after the 2024 draft and they gave him one of the heftier contracts received by any undrafted player. Chicago signed Randolph to a three-year deal worth $2.85 million, with $220,000 guaranteed.
The financial commitment increased Randolph Jr.’s chances of making the team,” The Draft Network’s Justin Melo wrote on June 17.
“The Bears showed consistent interest in Randolph Jr. throughout the entire pre-draft process. They first met with him at this year’s Senior Bowl, where he impressed throughout a productive week of practice and interviews. They then held a follow-up virtual meeting with Randolph Jr. to reiterate their interest in his services. (Bears general manager Ryan) Poles eventually kept the former Illini standout in-state by making him an aggressive offer.”
So, what are the Bears getting in Randolph? Here’s what NFL.com’s draft expert Lance Zierlein wrote about Randolph’s game heading into the 2024 NFL draft:
“An interior defender with good strength and pad level, Randolph lacks a true positional play quality where he can plant his flag on the next level. He’s not twitchy off the snap or with his field movements, but Randolph has managed to stack up tackles at a relatively high rate during his tenure at Illinois,” Zierlein noted, adding:
“He’s consistently playing as low as or lower than his opponents and can neutralize a base block, but he’s not a classic stack-and-shed defender. He could factor as a rotational defender but won’t offer much help as a pass rusher. Randolph has backup talent as a potential Day 3 pick.”
