Last weekend at the NFL Draft, Austin Reed did not hear his name called. However, after being selected by the Chicago Bears as an unsigned free agent, it seems like the former quarterback from the University of Western Florida is still pursuing his ambition of playing professional football.
After this year’s NFL draft concluded on April 27, the Chicago Bears signed former Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Upon receiving invites to the NFL Combine and the Shrine Bowl, Reed appeared to be a promising candidate for the draft. However, he ended up entering undrafted free agency because there were only eleven quarterbacks chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft, and only five of those were taken in the first round.
The Chicago Bears Strategy Behind the Pick
After selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall choice in the draft, the Chicago Bears are not looking for a starting quarterback; instead, they may use training camp to determine which of their other three quarterbacks would be the most suitable to back up Williams.
Bagent appears to be the favorite to keep his job from last year, but veteran Brett Rypien (free agent signing to the Chicago Bears) and Reed are now in the mix and undoubtedly looking to secure a place for themselves.
Though Reed might have an easier time competing with Rypien for the No. 3 quarterback spot than winning the backup job outright, last year’s circus with Bagent should serve as a reminder to Chicago Bears fans not to underestimate an undrafted rookie’s potential.
This shows that the Chicago Bears are willing to let anyone on their roster compete for important roles.
Austin Reed: A Worthy Free Agent QB3 Competitor?
At 6 feet 1.5 inches tall and 220 pounds, Reed has a hefty hand size—nearing ten inches—for an “above-average grip.” He also possesses outstanding mobility and the mentality “to improvise and make throws on the move,” according to NFL Analysts.
Analysts noted that he throws deep balls with “poor accuracy and touch” and a “gunslinger mentality,” which causes him to make some bad judgments. Reed lacks NFL characteristics for the position while having an exceptional career output.
According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, “He benefitted from a scheme that featured nearly 30% of his throws targeted behind the line of scrimmage in 2023 – and he still completed under 60% of his passes.”
Too many of Reed’s receivers frequently missed simple plays because he lacked the touch and accuracy necessary to lessen the pressure on them.
His arm power is insufficient to make the long and intermediate throws required to play the position in the NFL, despite the fact that he is a competitive player who can play out of structure and escape pressure.
Reeds Intriguing Journey
Reed’s collegiate football career was, to put it nicely, intriguing. When Reed graduated from St. Augustine High School in Florida, he went to Division I Southern Illinois, where he ultimately redshirted his first year.
Following his move to the University of West Florida, he played a key role in the Argos’ Division II National Championship victory over Minnesota State.
His 3,418 yards and thirty-eight touchdowns passing earned him the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year honor.
Austin Reed, who takes great satisfaction in his analytical approach to the game, demonstrated this in 2022 when facing a Power Five opponent.
Meanwhile, first-round draft pick Caleb Williams seemed pleased about the young quarterback shared on X with the comment, “Woahhhhhh!!!” Yeaaa, haha!”
About the Author
Michelle has a knack for all things sports. A life-long member of the Raider Nation, Michelle has learned football patience over the years. Follow her on Twitter at @Michellebe1717 and follow us @TotalApexSports.
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