Roster Moves: Bears claim former 3rd-round cornerback

The Chicago Bears’ 2022 season may be over, but GM Ryan Poles is still doing his part to add pieces to the roster that could be intriguing options as the 2023 off-season approaches.

On Wednesday, the Bears waived defensive end Taco Charlton and claimed defensive back Michael Ojemudia just one day after the Denver Broncos cut him loose.

The Bears waived DE Taco Charlton and claimed DB Michael Ojemudia.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) December 28, 2022

Charlton played in five games for the Bears and was a relative non-factor.

Michael Ojemudia could factor in 2023 offseason

The Broncos selected Ojemudia in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 11 games as a rookie. He spent most of the 2021 season on injured reserve and lost ground on Denver’s depth chart after the Broncos signed Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby in free agency and drafted Patrick Surtain Jr. in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Ojemudia (6-1, 200 pounds) ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine and was graded as a late-round developmental prospect.

“The size, length and potential to make plays on the ball will be appealing, but tape shows a player missing the instincts and burst to close and challenge throws from off coverages,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote prior to the 2020 draft. “He’s not as physical as teams will want for Cover 2, but a press-heavy scheme would keep him closer to his target and allow his length to factor more frequently. He doesn’t display the qualities of a natural ballhawk, but the measurables could land him in the later rounds as a developmental prospect.”

The Bears will enter the 2023 offseason with Kyler Gordon as the presumptive top cornerback on the depth chart. Jaylon Johnson will seek a new contract this offseason, making his long-term future a question that needs to be answered. Ojemudia wasn’t signed to be a starter, but he could emerge as a solid depth piece moving forward.