The Chicago Bears announced Wednesday that they’ve re-signed five exclusive rights free agents, including 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 with fewer than three accrued NFL seasons and were only permitted to negotiate and sign with their own team.
We have re-signed exclusive rights free agents Alex Bars, Josh Woods, James Vaughters, Ryan Nall & J.P. Holtz.
Welcome back, guys! 🐻⬇️@Hyundai | #DaBears https://t.co/2Rqu7n3R94
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 3, 2021
Bars has become a promising prospect on the Bears offensive line last season, where he started the final eight games — at center, left guard and mostly right guard — as well as Chicago’s wild-card game against the Saints at right guard. He’s a part of a promising interior of the offensive line heading into 2021, alongside fellow undrafted Notre Dame teammate Sam Mustipher.
Woods, a former undrafted free agent out of Maryland, played in 15 games last season — as a reserve — and tallied 14 total tackles on defense and seven stops on special teams. He filled in at linebacker when starter Roquan Smith suffered an elbow injury in the regular-season finale.
Vaughters, Nall and Holtz have also become key reserves for the Bears, as well as on special teams.
