The Bears on Wednesday re-signed five of their exclusive rights free agents: offensive lineman Alex Bars, inside linebacker Josh Woods, outside linebacker James Vaughters, running back Ryan Nall and tight end J.P. Holtz.
Exclusive rights free agents are players who have completed fewer than three accrued NFL seasons and can only negotiate and sign with their current team.
Bars' addition to the starting lineup helped solidify the Bears offensive line over the second half of last season. He opened the final eight games—one at center, one at left guard and six at right guard—and started the wild card playoff contest against the Saints at right guard. Bars originally joined the Bears in 2019 as an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame. He opened his rookie season on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in mid-October, but played only 12 snaps on offense.
Last season Woods appeared in 15 games, all as a reserve, and recorded 14 tackles on defense and seven stops on special teams. Joining the Bears in 2018 as an undrafted free agent from Maryland, Woods spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad before playing in nine games as a reserve in 2019.
In his second season with the Bears last year, Vaughters compiled 19 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and three special-teams tackles while playing in 14 games, all as a reserve. Vaughters signed with the Bears in 2019 and appeared in three games as a reserve after spending the previous two seasons with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.
Nall played in all 16 games last season as a reserve, catching eight passes for 67 yards and one touchdown. Nall originally signed with the Bears in 2018 as an undrafted free agent from Oregon State. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad before appearing in eight games as a reserve in 2019.
Holtz played in all 16 games with one start last season. He contributed mostly on special teams, registering four tackles. The Bears claimed Holtz off waivers from Washington on Sept. 11, 2019, and he caught seven passes for 91 yards while appearing in 14 games with seven starts.
Take a look at the Bears players officially slated to become unrestricted, restricted, or exclusive rights free agents when the NFL's free agency period begins on March 17 as well as the players who have re-signed with the team and will continue their careers in Chicago.
WR DeAndre Carter
Restricted Free Agent
OL Rashaad Coward
Restricted Free Agent
S Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Unrestricted Free Agent
TE Demetrius Harris
Unrestricted Free Agent
WR Dwayne Harris
Unrestricted Free Agent
NT John Jenkins
Unrestricted Free Agent
DB Michael Joseph
Exclusive Rights Free Agent
NT Daniel McCullers
Unrestricted Free Agent
S Sherrick McManis
Unrestricted Free Agent
WR Cordarrelle Patterson
Unrestricted Free Agent
K Eddy Piñeiro
Restricted Free Agent
OL Jason Spriggs
Unrestricted Free Agent
OL Alex Bars
Re-signed to one-year contract (March 3)
TE J.P. Holtz
Re-signed to one-year contract (March 3)
RB Ryan Nall
Re-signed to one-year contract (March 3)
OLB James Vaughters
Re-signed to one-year contract (March 3)
ILB Josh Woods
Re-signed to one-year contract (March 3)
WR Allen Robinson II
Franchise tagged by the club (March 9)
K Cairo Santos
Agreed to terms on three-year contract extension (March 11)
P Pat O'Donnell
Agreed to terms on one-year contract extension (March 12)
DE Mario Edwards Jr.
Agreed to terms on three-year contract extension (March 16)
OL Germain Ifedi
Agreed to terms on one-year contract extension (March 17)
S Deon Bush
Agreed to terms on one-year contract (March 17)
LS Patrick Scales
Agreed to terms on one-year contract (March 19)
S DeAndre Houston-Carson
Signed to one-year contract (March 25)
CB Artie Burns
Signed one-year contract (March 26)
OLB Barkevious Mingo
Signed with Atlanta Falcons
DE Roy Robertson-Harris
Signed with Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Mitchell Trubisky
Signed with Buffalo Bills
DT Brent Urban
Signed with Dallas Cowboys
