In 2022, linebacker Jack Sanborn made waves, followed by quarterback Tyson Bagent last season. Now, the question looms: can the Chicago Bears unearth another hidden gem among undrafted players this year?
According to one analyst, the Bears may have struck gold with former Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed.
Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler singled out one undrafted free agent as the most promising for each NFL team, and in Chicago, he highlighted Reed.
“Austin Reed arrives in Chicago with an impressive list of accomplishments, notable performances against FBS opponents, and a traditional approach to quarterbacking that could catch the eye of Bears management,” Fowler wrote on May 5, adding:
“Teams often seek a backup with a similar skill set to their starter, but Reed’s exceptional passing ability might give general manager Ryan Poles pause for thought.”
The odds of QB Austin Reed earning a spot on the Chicago Bears roster are slim, but if he can outshine Bagent, who secured the backup role as a UDFA last season, Reed stands a chance of making the final 53-man roster.
Austin Reed:
8,082 passing yards since 2022 (only Penix & Williams have more)
71 passing touchdowns since 2022 (only Nix & Williams have more)@ChicagoBears 📈 pic.twitter.com/lJzQXoGk93
— PFF CHI Bears (@PFF_Bears) April 29, 2024
During his two seasons at Western Kentucky, Reed amassed 8,086 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, completing 63.2% of his passes, while also rushing for 12 scores. In his last season alone, he threw for 3,340 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, with a completion rate of 61.5%.
It will be an uphill battle for Reed to displace Bagent as Caleb Williams’ backup, but Bagent faced similar challenges last year and proved himself capable. Perhaps Reed can follow suit.
After beating out veteran P.J. Walker for the backup role, Bagent started four games as a rookie last season, stepping in for former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Bagent went 2-2 in his starts, completing 65.7% of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions. This experience gives Bagent the edge heading into training camp.
With a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron, both Williams, Bagent, and Reed will be learning the same playbook simultaneously. If Reed adapts better to Waldron’s system than Bagent, it could bolster the rookie QB’s prospects.
Taking a closer look at Reed’s game, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback demonstrates solid pocket presence and the ability to evade pressure. However, his performance is not without limitations. In 2023, 680 of his passing yards came from screen passes, which ranked fourth among quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks. Additionally, he had 52 batted balls over his last two seasons, which is less than ideal. Although he displayed competitiveness and agility under pressure, questions remain about his arm talent.
Austin Reed threads the needle! 🪡
The @WKUFootball QB drops it right into Easton Messer’s hands for the TD! 🙌
📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/VYq4GB9lmM
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) September 29, 2023
Despite Reed’s potential, the most probable outcome is a spot on the practice squad, with Bagent retaining his position as the team’s backup. Nonetheless, Reed’s name is one to keep an eye on in the coming months.
