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BOULDER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Kaden Anderson #12 of the Wyoming Cowboys looks to hand off the ball during the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears boast one of the top offensive lines in the NFL, and despite having continuity on the right side of the line, the undrafted pickup of Wyoming offensive lineman Caden Barnett is turning heads.

Barnett, 6’3″ and 316 lbs, scored an impressive 9.54 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10.00 and was picked up by the Bears as an undrafted free agent. Known as the “Vanilla Gorilla,” Barnett has major sports outlets like Bleacher Report and The Athletic believing he has a real shot at making the 53-man roster.

Bears Receive Encouraging Message Regarding UDFA Caden Barnett

There’s no denying Barnett has the tools to be successful at the NFL level. With extensive experience starting at right tackle and right guard, Barnett is expected to stay as a guard full-time at the NFL level, and brings a wrestling background with over 2,200 snaps played during college.

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner believes Barnett is one undrafted free agent to watch for the Bears, writing, “A long-armed lineman, Barnett was a two-year starting right tackle at Wyoming before finishing his career as an all-conference right guard. A former wrestler with big-time power in the run game, Barnett (6-3, 316) is a great mover who could compete for a roster spot.”

He’s not going to take the starting RG spot away from Jonah Jackson, but Barnett definitely has the potential to be a key depth piece on the Bears’ offensive line.

“While Barnett certainly won’t push Jonah Jackson or Darnell Wright out of a job in the foreseeable future, he’ll have the chance to stick as a swing backup who provides depth behind the two right-side standouts,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote, who has Barnett as one UDFA that’ll most likely make the Bears roster.

Barnett Sends A Message

Despite going undrafted, Barnett believes he has unlimited potential.

“I believe I have unlimited potential,” Barnett said in an interview with SI’s Justin Melo. “I’m going to strive to reach my ceiling. I came into college very raw. I’ll always put my best foot forward. I’m a very tough player. I love running through a defender’s face. I’m always getting better.”

What exactly does Barnett bring to the Bears? BR’s Brandon Thorn wrote, “Caden Barnett is a barrel-chested, powerful in-line blocker without much wiggle who can dig out down linemen on angle-drive blocks, feeds on doubles, and pulls but will lean, overextend and be tardy to recover against slippery defenders. Barnett projects as a developmental guard with the right wiring and enough tools to have his best football come as a pro.”

With Barnett not being a perfect prospect by any means, he’s coming into the perfect situation in Chicago. He won’t have to start from Day 1 and will be coached by one of the best O-line coaches in the NFL, Dan Roushar.

“He’s been such a good fit for me personally, too, because I am naturally pretty critical,” Ben Johnson said regarding Roushar. “So I’m trying to, like, lift the room up. It makes me a better coach. I can’t say enough about the work he has done with those guys.”

Roushar is the coach who can take Barnett’s game to another level, and there’s optimism that he can not only make the 53-man roster but be a pivotal depth piece on one of the top offensive lines in the NFL.