Kindle Vildor will need to step it up with Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine gone
Pace has once again found another gem in the late-round of the NFL Draft. Kindle Vildor, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, had to step in for Jaylon Johnson last season when Johnson suffered an injury near the end of 2020. Now, he may need to fill a larger hole.
Vildor flashed at moments when he played for Johnson, but he also had some rough ones. The rookie out of Georgia Southern showed an impressive swagger and feel for the game though for a small-school rookie that you just can’t teach. His biggest knock was his size coming out of college as he is slender and not very tall, but he plays more physically than he looks.
Now, with Kyle Fuller gone, the Bears brought in Desmond Trufant and brought back Artie Burns to compete with Vildor to start alongside Johnson. According to reports though, Vildor has impressed thus far. Even if he doesn’t win the starting second cornerback role, he likely will start at slot cornerback is my guess.
If he is starting, he has a major role to fill with an All-Pro corner getting released. Vildor will have to really step up into that role or step up for the position once owned by Buster Skrine at slot corner. That isn’t as big of a loss, but he still needs to play well as the Bears play out of nickel constantly.