AP

Viewers of ESPN’s NFL draft coverage heard a lot about Troy offensive lineman James Brown on Saturday. Mel Kiper ranked Brown as the No. 54 player in the draft and spent much of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds calling him one of the best players still available. But NFL teams obviously disagreed, because even after 253 names were called, Brown remained undrafted.

If Kiper is right, the Bears got the best undrafted free agent available: They announced that they signed Brown after the draft.

Brown started 38 games at left tackle for Troy, but many observers of his performance at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine came away thinking he lacks the quickness to deal with NFL pass rushers and translates better to guard at the next level. He’s a project, but he’s a project that the Bears have to feel good about getting without having to spend a draft pick on him.

The Bears also agreed to terms with these undrafted free agents: Alvester Alexander, RB, Wyoming; Ronnie Cameron, DT, Old Dominion; Adrien Cole, LB, Louisiana Tech; Trevor Coston, S, Maine; Terriun Crump, WR, Western Illinois; Britton Golden, WR, West Texas A&M; A.J. Greene, T, Albany; Jeremy Jones, S, Wayne State; Chris Summers, WR, Liberty; Ronnie Thornton, LB, Southern Miss.