Kevin Toliver should be ahead of Artie Burns on Chicago Bears depth chart
The Chicago Bears signed a former first-round pick in Artie Burns at cornerback. Despite his pedigree, he should start below Kevin Toliver on the depth chart
With the release of Prince Amukamara, the Chicago Bears were obviously going to add a cornerback of some sort. They have Tre Roberson from the CFL, and Kevin Toliver, a UDFA with a few starts under his belt. Still, even if the Chicago Bears believe in these two, they are unproven, which is why the Artie Burns signing makes sense.
Artie Burns is just 24 years old and is a former first-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, when Burns was drafted, many analysts screamed reach and were proven right year over year.
Burns brings depth to a position that needed it. However, if you look at the past two seasons, Kevin Toliver has been the more professional cornerback.
Artie Burns had poor college tape, and that translated to the NFL. However, he was pumped into the first round because he had great character, he was very young, and he was a track athlete. He never spent much time playing football, so the Steelers took a shot on a raw developmental corner in the first round because of his personality and athletic history. The team also may have panicked after their rival Cincinnati Bengals jumped in and took William Jackson before them.
Regardless, Burns has never proven to be that caliber of player.
On the flip side is Kevin Toliver, almost the exact opposite. He was a big football recruit for LSU and was supposed to be in a line of great cornerbacks. Where Burns work ethic propped him up pre-draft, questions about Toliver and his immaturity sent him down draft boards.
However, it was Toliver who had first-round video at LSU, not Burns at Miami.
Over the past two seasons, Toliver has played 311 snaps for the Bears, while Burns played 375 for the Steelers. In that time Toliver has allowed a touchdown and committed one penalty. Burns has allowed five touchdowns and committed six penalties.
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Both Toliver and Burns are a similar age. However, if Toliver was a round one player, and Burns was the UDFA, Toliver would be a slam dunk starter, and Burns wouldn’t be in the NFL. Fans may cling to Burns because of his pedigree. However, from high school through this very day, Kevin Toliver has been a better cornerback than Artie Burns.