The Chicago Bears made the best picks with what they had in the 2022 NFL Draft.
While some wonder about Chicago not taking a receiver with their first pick, Kyler Gordon is showing why Chicago picked him.
The corner, who played for the Washington Huskies in college. showed flash during the Bears minicamp.
With the Bears having one of the worst secondaries in 2021, a convincing performance from Gordon in 2022 would help the team.
The Bears picking him in the second round might pay off, as many NFL teams overlooked him because of college stats that weren’t top-tier.
Gordon Could Be A Sleeper Pick From 2022 NFL Draft
With minicamps underway for Chicago, Gordon was fast to show off his skills.
.@kyler_gordon's got hops 😳 pic.twitter.com/bkSYxpGef6
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 7, 2022
His 45 tackles and two interceptions from 2021 drew the Bears to him.
Measurables with him also stood out to the Bears.
His vertical jump of 39.5 inches was apparent during minicamps for coaches to observe.
The Bears also saw how Gordon was playing with Trent McDuffie with the Huskies in 2021.
McDuffie was a first-round pick in the draft and was hyped over Gordon, despite his stats not matching up against Gordon.
When comparing the two from 2021, Gordon is the steal of the draft for Chicago.
He can also help revitalize the Bears’ secondary, which hasn’t been the same since 2018.
Gordon Is Seen As Second Starting Corner For 2022 Season
With the Bears needing corners to stop divisional quarterbacks, like Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, Gordon makes for a good starter.
While his size is average, his physicality with receivers makes him tough to deal with.
Kyler Gordon 5’11 1/2 194 lb CB from Washington
2021 All-Pac-12 with an alpha mentality at corner that loves to hit & get physical with receivers. Elite bust & smooth hips makes him a lethal playmaker. Ranked as high as CB3 on many boards & great value in round 2
Day 1 starter pic.twitter.com/Jky4dpS5Fj
— DBNB (@DaBadNewsBears) May 1, 2022
Chicago needs a corner like this to keep receivers and quarterbacks in check for 2022.
With passing heavy teams like the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in their division, a physical corner is necessary.
It can also force those teams to revert to the running game, where the Bears defensive line usually excels.
Gordon will start opposite of corner Jaylon Johnson for the 2022 NFL season as an outside corner.
Bears DC Alan Williams said rookie Kyler Gordon will begin his career as an outside corner.
“To have him go outside and inside, it's tough on a rookie. To be able to stick him in one place and let him go and develop and learn and feel comfortable, right now that's the plan."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) May 7, 2022
That gives the Bears some hope for 2022 against the quarterbacks they will face for the season.
However, the Bears need someone that can not only check receivers but also make quarterbacks fearful to pass balls his way.
Can Gordon Make Quarterbacks And Receivers Fear Him?
With him being such a physical player, some receivers might not want to challenge him.
However, quarterbacks could have problems as well with the vertical leap he’s showcased before.
He has shown that jump balls aren’t a problem for him to catch.
Add in his aggression as a defensive player and you have someone willing to fight for the ball every play.
That dangerous combination could make both receivers and quarterbacks fear him.
However, that might not happen until he fully develops as an NFL corner.
While pushing around college receivers can be easy, things aren’t that simple at a higher level of play.
With continued work on his abilities, he could be that feared player on defense.
2022 will be interesting for the Bears and their newest defensive corner.
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