When the 2011 draft finished, Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher was still without a team. He signed with the Bears, made the team after catching 10 passes in preseason, and then was second to Kellen Davis in receiving touchdowns (three).
Sanzenbacher was the No. 1-rated player remaining after the finish of the draft last season, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
This year Kipers No. 1 remaining player post-draft was Troy tackle James Brown. He too is a Bear now.
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The reasons why Brown went undrafted are fairly apparent:
Hes 6-3-and-a-half, a left tackle and theres not too many of those out there, Mel observed. Outside of Brad Hopkins from Illinois to Tennessee Titans, and a couple others, there havent been many like that.
We talk about tweeners at positionsHe was a tweener. Is he a guard? Is he a tackle? I think hes a guard. I think this was a good signing for the Bears.
He was the highest-rated undrafted guy. Last year Dane Sanzenbacher was my highest-rated undrafted guy. So two years in a row the Bears have gotten my highest-rated guy still on the board.