If the new five-year eligibility proposal was to be put into place for current undrafted free agents in the NFL, Michigan State fans would love to get Omari Kelly back.
Unfortunately for Spartan fans, that’s just not how it works. Kelly has already signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago Bears and NCAA president Charlie Baker essentially said that grandfathering in current seniors to the five-year eligibility window is not part of his recommendation.
That’s obviously off the table in this situation, but I’m just trying to point out how popular Kelly was in just one season in East Lansing. He was one of the few offensive bright spots throughout the Jonathan Smith era and he made his impact felt in one year with Michigan State.
After getting his start at Auburn, catching six passes for 101 yards in 2022 and 2023 combined, Kelly decided to transfer to Middle Tennessee for his junior season.
There, he broke out for 869 yards and four touchdowns on 53 receptions and improved his stock drastically, but needed one more year at the Power Four level before he could expect NFL teams to take notice. He opted to transfer to Michigan State where he finished with 626 yards and two touchdowns on 47 receptions.
Now, he’s officially part of the Chicago Bears’ organization as an undrafted free agent signee.
And he has a legitimate shot at making the 53-man roster in the fall.
Omari Kelly may have landed at the perfect spot
Kelly is talented enough, in my opinion, that it wouldn’t have surprised me to see an NFL team take a chance on him in the later rounds, but it didn’t take long for the Bears to sign him after the draft.
The former Michigan State wideout might just be facing an ideal situation in Chicago.
How, you might ask? Well, he’s joining a team that doesn’t exactly have a loaded receiving corps. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III are likely the only two guys locked into starting spots and Kalif Raymond, a former gadget guy for the Lions, is projected as the third option. Outside of those guys, I really don’t think it would be shocking to see Kelly jump a Zavion Thomas, JP Richardson, Jahdae Walker, or Maurice Alexander on the depth chart.
Kelly is going to need a huge offseason and a strong fall camp, but as long as he shows what he did in one season at Michigan State, the Bears are going to have a hard time turning him away.
I already think that Kelly is one of the 5-6 best receivers on the Bears’ roster. That should be good enough to make the 53-man this fall.
The opportunity is there, he just needs to play the way he’s capable and he’s in.
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