Chicago Bears

Tanner Gentry Among Former Bears Taken in XFL Draft

Tight end Evan Rodriguez and wide receiver Tre McBride were also taken in Phase 1 of the draft

Teams in the newly reformed XFL are beginning the process of putting together their teams for the league’s 2020 debut season, and several former Chicago Bears players will be pulling on the league’s colors in the coming year.

Wide receiver Tanner Gentry, who signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent before the 2017 season, was taken in the third round of Tuesday’s Phase 1 draft by the New York Guardians, the league announced. Gentry played in four games with the Bears, catching three passes for 35 yards, and was a mainstay on the team’s practice squad for several seasons.

Tight end Evan Rodriguez, drafted by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, was picked in the sixth round by the Seattle Dragons. Rodriguez appeared in 12 games for the Bears during his rookie season, with four catches for 21 yards in those contests. He has not played in an NFL game since 2014.

Two former Bears were taken in the second round of the draft, as Rashad Ross, who played two games for the Bears as a kick returner in 2014, was taken by the Los Angeles Wildcats. Wide receiver Tre McBride, who played in eight games for the Bears in 2017, was taken by the D.C. Defenders.

The Defenders also took another former Bears player in the fifth round, selecting tight end Khari Lee.

Among the notable former NFL players taken in the draft were quarterback Connor Cook and wide receiver Sammie Coates, both of whom were drafted by the Houston Rednecks. The St. Louis Battle Hawks took running back Christine Michael in the first round, and the Dallas Renegades took running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar.

Former Bears head coach Marc Trestman, who is the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Vipers, grabbed wide receiver Seantavius Jones in the second round and running back Quinton Flowers in the fifth round.

The XFL Draft will continue on Wednesday, with Phase 2 beginning at 12 p.m.

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