The Bears have inked their final unsigned draft pick to a rookie contract. The team announced the signing of sixth-round selection Duke Shelley on Thursday.
Shelley, a cornerback, was selected No. 205 overall out of Kansas State, where he appeared in 38 games with 37 starts over four seasons. He recorded 165 tackles, eight interceptions—returning two for touchdowns—one sack and seven tackles-for-loss.
Shelley started all 12 games he played as a junior in 2017, ranking fourth in the Big 12 with 13 pass breakups while earning honorable mention all-conference recognition. He opened the first seven games last year before sustaining a season-ending toe injury.
He figures to make around $2.5 million over four years.
Earlier this month, Bears coach Matt Nagy said he liked what he’s seen from Shelley.
“Duke’s a confident kid — he’s twitchy, he’s always going to be scrappy and be around you,” he said. “And I think he’s learning from a great player in [starting slot cornerback] Buster [Skrine]. They’re very similar. But when those pads come on, that’s when it’s really real. And that’s when you’ve got to stick your nose in there and make a few tackles.”
Shelley played outside in the pass-happy Big 12, but at 5-foot-9 he will likely compete for time as a slot corner with the Bears, though his primary impact will most likely come on special teams units early on in his career.
League wide, there are now 15 unsigned 2019 draft picks and only one of them — Vikings seventh-round long snapper Austin Cutting — was drafted after the third round.
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