Kevin Peterson (5’10 | 190) – One of my favorite UDFAs this season, who I had graded as a 5th round pick. Peterson was a team captain and a three-year starter in the pass-happy Big12, routinely matching up against opponent’s top receivers. According to Pro Football Focus, he only allowed five catches the first seven games of the season and more than held his own against top picks Josh Doctson, Corey Coleman, and Sterling Shepard.
Peterson suffered an ankle injury and played poorly in the 2nd half of the season and then ran a slow 40-time at the combine (4.66) which combined to drop him out of the draft, but when healthy again could be a competent sub-package corner even as a rookie. He could use some time in the weight room, so may not be a factor until 2017, but I will be surprised if Peterson doesn’t eventually see some snaps with the Bears defense.
Taveze Calhoun (6’1 | 180) – Like Peterson, Calhoun was a team captain and three-year starter but more impressively was also a finalist for the academic heisman. He has better size than Peterson as well and is a better run defender, perhaps good enough to play as a rookie. Calhoun may not be as polished of a coverage corner as Peterson, but has the strength and physicality to play early in his career.
There isn’t much flashy about Calhoun’s game, with only four interceptions in three years as a starter, but led all draft-eligible SEC corners in passer rating against (40.0). Calhoun is solid against both the run and pass, intelligent, and has good size which may be enough to see the field for the Bears in 2016 considering their lack of depth in the secondary.
Summary – The fourth corner job is Glenn’s to lose. Considering the Bears inactivity on the free agent market at the position and Glenn’s promotion from the practice squad late last year, they must think he has the ability to be a sub-package corner in 2016. NFL teams need at least four good corners and preferably five or six.
So who else makes the opening day roster at corner? McManis is a lock due to his special teams contributions as is Hall due to his 4th round pedigree, length, and versatility unless he’s clearly overwhelmed with the transition from DII to the NFL.
That gives the Bears six corners, but if the Bears end up keeping a seventh (or Hall moves to safety), I think Taveze Calhoun will surprise and be a roster staple by the second half of the season.