The Chicago Bears are proving to be big fans of CFL talent.
Just a week after they brought in four CFL players for a tryout, the NFC North squad hosted a pair of Grey Cup champion defensive backs on Tuesday. The team worked out Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ cornerback DeAundre Alford, while his teammate Deatrick Nichols was listed as an official visit.
Both players are under contract with Winnipeg next season, but are taking advantage of the NFL option window to test out opportunities south of the border.
Considered by many to be the most sought after CFL player for NFL clubs this off-season, Alford was named a CFL all-star at cornerback in his true rookie season. The 24-year old from tiny Division II Tusculum University started all 14 games for the back-to-back champs in 2021, notching 48 tackles and four interceptions.
Playing beside him at halfback, Nichols was also named a CFL all-star in his first CFL season. The 27-year old arrived in Winnipeg after having been the defunct XFL’s interception leader in 2020 and never missed a beat, making 46 total tackles, three picks and one sack in 12 games.
The South Florida product has spent time as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals and was on the roster of the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins for stretches of the last off-season.
The NFL option window opened on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 and will remain open until 12:01 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. CFL players are able to work out for NFL teams during this period even if they are under contract with a team north of the border.
