Minicamps are not the place to start getting overly excited about players. More than anything it’s a nice time for coaches to see if they have anybody on the field who might be worth giving a second, closer look in training camp. This is especially true for tryout players and Chicago Bears undrafted free agents. Every positive play they can make in practice is a critical step closer to securing a possible roster spot.
On Friday the team started their rookie minicamps which included all their draft picks, undrafted free agents, and some tryout players as well from local schools. Sprinkled in were a number of veterans such as quarterback Anthony Murray and cornerback Antwon Blake. Proof that it’s not just the kids who are hunting for jobs too.
It’s not going to be easy for these guys to make the final roster. Remember it will be narrowed from 90 to 53 by the end of August. Most of the names people hear about as “sleepers” between now and then won’t make the cut. That’s why every single practice is crucial. One guy seems to have taken that message to heart.
Matt Nagy singles out Kevin Toliver as a Day 1 standout
There were a number of standouts in the first minicamp practice to head coach Matt Nagy, but only one he noted by name during his post-practice presser. That was undrafted rookie cornerback Kevin Toliver.
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CB Kevin Toliver made a couple plays on the ball today and he caught eye of #Bears coach Matt Nagy.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) May 11, 2018
It’s encouraging to hear that. Toliver was touted by a number of experts to be the best undrafted signing the Bears made. A year ago some had the LSU product as a closet threat to go in the first round. Unfortunately, a variety of circumstances killed his momentum. He battled a knee injury in 2015, then a shoulder problem in 2016. Last year he was healthy but by then had lost much of his playing time to others.
every time i watch lsu kevin toliver is doing something. feel like he's a guy you take in late day-2 early day-3 and pray the talent matches the size/hype pic.twitter.com/G93E3pAP5o
— tyler morales (@_TMorales) March 17, 2018
He’s also rumored to have ego problems that can turn some people off. Still, given his 6’2″ frame and athletic prowess, it was a shock that he went undrafted. Most had him somewhere in the fourth round. So it’s clear the Bears got some value in terms of physical capability. LSU has often been a factory for good cornerbacks.
Vic Fangio is no stranger to turn unheralded defensive backs into good players. Toliver has the type of style that the Bears defensive coordinator likes. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he challenged and won a roster spot.
