The last time Omari Kelly took the field for Michigan State, he did so at Ford Field in Detroit as a Spartan. The next time he plays at Ford Field, he’ll do so as a Bear.
According to Michigan State’s official X account, the Middle Tennessee wide receiver transfer signed a deal with the Chicago Bears shortly after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’ll now be an NFC North rival of the Detroit Lions who a majority of Michigan State fans root for. He’s now the third former Michigan State receiver to join the NFC North over the past few years.
The first former Michigan State receiver to join a Lions divisional rival was Jalen Nailor back in 2022. He was picked by the Minnesota Vikings and has since signed a $35 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The next was Jayden Reed who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers a year after Nailor and he, too, just signed a massive contract. Unfortunately for the Lions, Reed is staying in the NFC North with the Packers as his extension will keep him in Green Bay for the next four years.
Now, Kelly is on the Bears as all three NFC North teams have now been home to former Michigan State receivers since 2022.
Unlike Reed and Nailor, however, Kelly faces an uphill battle as an undrafted receiver. I’d expect him to make the 53-man roster in Chicago just based on the fact that I believe he’s more talented than he gets credit for, but he’s going to have to scratch and claw his way onto Ben Johnson’s team.
Kelly feels like the perfect weapon for Johnson.
Omari Kelly has what it takes to make it in the NFL
Anyone who watched Michigan State this year probably noticed a few standout performers on the offensive side of the ball. Nick Marsh obviously stood out, but Kelly was one of the most consistent performers on that side of the ball throughout the season.
In his lone year with Michigan State, the 6-foot-0, 188-pound Alabama native caught 47 passes for 626 yards and two touchdowns, proving that his breakout season with Middle Tennessee in 2024 after a quiet two-year career with Auburn was no fluke. He had just five catches for 101 yards in two years at Auburn before his breakout at Middle Tennessee and carry-over at Michigan State.
I’m not sure how Kelly went undrafted because he looks the part of an NFL receiver and kind of reminds me a little of Jayden Reed.
Will Kelly have the same NFL impact as Reed? That’d be tough to say, especially considering Reed just signed a $50 million extension with the Packers. I think if Kelly signs a deal that’s worth even a fraction of that in his NFL career, we can call him a success story.
I’m willing to bet on him to make an NFL roster and have an impact.
Add us as a preferred source on Google