Bears don't draft QB, line up Shane Carden

The Bears didn’t draft a quarterback, but expect to announce the signing of one Sunday.

Shane Carden, the East Carolina quarterback who started the past three seasons, said on Twitter he would join the Bears in time for their rookie minicamp next weekend. Bears GM Ryan Pace didn’t want to comment about undrafted free agents Saturday night, but acknowledged the move was pending.

“We’re excited about that potential,” he said.

Bears coach John Fox joked about Twitter: “Is that like a signed contract?”

Carden is 6-2, 218 pounds, and went undrafted in part because of questions about his arm strength and athleticism. He left ECU as the school’s all-time leading passer; last season, he completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 4,736 yards, 30 scores and 10 interceptions.

As a junior, he completed 70.5 percent of his passes in the Pirates’ pass-heavy offense.

Pace said the Bears would have considered drafting a quarterback, but the need for one never lined up with their draft board.

“It never locked into where we were on the board,” he said. “Every time our pick came up, we had guys clearly graded better than the quarterbacks that were there.

“There was never an opportunity that aligned. But we’re excited about college free agency, and to be able to do it that way.”

The Bears said they will announce their undrafted free agent class Sunday.