Could Tyson Campbell replace Kyle Fuller in 2021 NFL Draft?

Tyson Campbell has been on the radar for a long-time. The former 5-star recruit at cornerback got on the field as a true freshman for the Georgia Bulldogs and has been starting for them over the past three years.

Below you can see the career stats of Tyson Campbell at Georgia

Campbell is a well-known athlete back in high school as well. He ran track and was known as a gifted sprinter. Below you can see his size and athletic testing profile. Campbell has put on weight since high school and has slowed down some, but sill has great speed.

Traits that Tyson Campbell brings to the NFL

Obviously, the size and speed jump off. From the start, he can hang with big receivers. Campbell also plays physically in his pass defense. He likes to press at the line of scrimmage and get his hands on you early. His press technique may be the most refined area of his game.

From there, he has the quick feet to stay in WRs back pocket. Look at the play below against Heisman winner Devonta Smith. He stays physical throughout the route but has the foot speed to match Smith and stop with him as well.

Campbell has the foot speed to play man, but also has experience in press zone and jumping back to play the football. In the play clipped here, you can see him jump a pass sitting back in zone coverage.

His complete package presents a much higher ceiling than other prospects, and he has been tested against some of the better wide receivers in the college football nation.

Concerns with Tyson Campbell

He is solid and good in most areas, but not quite complete in any areas. He has the foot speed and quickness for man but often can lose his balance while guessing on routes. You can also see from his low agility times that he is not as great at changing direction and defending passes over the middle, or whip routes.

Campbell is at his best staying on a side of the field and defending the boundary. However, in the zone, he can get caught with his eyes in the backfield, and too often he had to flash his recovery speed. Beyond that, he does not have the ball production, or awareness to make plays on the ball. You often could see Campbell in a WRs back pocket, and still see the WR jump for a great catch with Campbell running through the route, oblivious of where the ball is.

Tyson Campbell NFL comparison

Using the size and athletic profile that Campbell brings into the NFL, we are able to check a list of similar-sized prospects. Some big names stand out, and for Chicago Bears fans, he does have similar measurements to Kyle Fuller and Jaylon Johnson. Jaylon Johnson is a good comparison for Tyson Campbell in the NFL as well.

Johnson may be a bit more well-rounded but came from a smaller school. Still, both come into the NFL with clean press technique and physicality as their best traits. Still, just like Campbell, the biggest issues that Jaylon Johnson faced as a rookie were inward breaking routes.

Still, both have the speed and foot quickness to match receivers, and while Campbell may fall to round two like Johnson, Campbell could be starting for an NFL team in Week 1.

Does Tyson Campbell fit Chicago Bears?

Does a player with Kyle Fuller’s size, and Jaylon Johnson’s skills fit with the Chicago Bears? Hmm. This one makes a lot of sense. He is not a Fuller clone, but he is the exact corner you would build to step into his spot. The Bears have typically played their sides and will ask Campbell to press, drop into a zone, and read the routes in front of him.

With the physicality and quick feet to break on passes, the scheme fit is ideal. The question is how high Campbell will go. If he falls into the Jaylon Johnson range, the Bears could very well spend their second-round pick replacing Fuller.

At pick 20, that is too rich. Campbell is not a complete, no doubt prospect, and the Bears have too many pressing other needs. He would not quite be the best player available then.