Keith Randolph Jr, Defensive Tackle
Keith Randolph could find himself playing a key role on the Chicago Bears defensive line. Last season, the team drafted Gervon Dexter in the second round. He backed up Justin Jones. Together, Jones and Dexter were instrumental in helping the Bears’ run defense go from being ranked 31st in 2022 to number one in 2023.
© Tork Mason / USA Today NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
This offseason, the Bears felt confident enough in Dexter to let Jones depart to the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent. Now Dexter is the main man, the starter. With that happening, the defense needed a backup to Dexter. Randolph, another local kid who hails from Belleville, attended the University of Illinois and went undrafted. Poles came calling.
Randolph is 6-foot-4, 300 pounds. He is a behemoth in the middle who is difficult to move. He is a tremendous run stuffer. He can swallow up the ball carrier and stop him in his tracks. He will help the Chicago Bears’ defense to continue to be excellent against the run.
The Chicago Bears might move second-year defensive tackle Zacch Pickens to the three-technique behind Dexter. He was Andrew Billings‘ backup at nose guard. However, since Pickens did a solid job as a backup to Billings, the Bears might want to keep him there.
The key will be how effective Randolph is when he gets his chance. Others will compete but they are mainly camp bodies. Poles and the coaching staff are really high on Randolph and want him to be the guy. If he can handle the job, he will be the team’s choice as Dexter’s backup.
Poles has a penchant for finding local players to be on the team. The fans see that these kids are like them. It’s great to see one of them get a shot at playing for their hometown teams. That adds more excitement to the team. Randolph wants to be on the Chicago Bears and it looks as if he will do it.
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