These young Chicago Bears defensive backs could really produce
Don’t let Deandre Baker’s off-field issues confuse you for his talent. The most significant difference is the Chicago Bears got Vildor in the fifth round. Vildor has all of the tools and talent to become a starting outside caliber cornerback in the league.
He has shown some growth and promise at minicamp, but that is without pads. The actual test will come at training camp this summer. With a potential starting combination of Johnson and Vildor, the nickel position is the only cornerback position to be in question.
Duke Shelley was one of my favorite picks from the Chicago Bears 2019 draft class. The things I have seen from him at Kansas State are exactly what I have seen from Thomas Graham, Jr from Oregon. That is a ball-hawking cornerback that plays like Marcus Peters.
Both players excelled from the outside position and are high-risk, high-reward types of players. The Chicago Bears have Shelley playing in the slot due to his size, but I have always thought he was a boundary corner. Many feel that the size would be an issue, but I don’t. It is a different era, but if Tim Jennings can do it, so can Duke Shelley.
However, it is not up to me. Shelley will have to figure out how to move his and feet together on the inside. If he does, he already has the drive to tackle players and the ball-hawking skills to create turnovers like Bryce Callahan used to do for the Chicago Bears. Another third-year player that needs to step up his game is Riley Ridley. While his play on film looks excellent.
It seems to be getting on the field that is Ridley’s issue. Maybe Ridley and some of the receivers are cursed from the 2019 draft. Why is N’Keal Harry not dominating? Why is Ridley not getting more playing time? They say draft for value and not need. Ridley was one of those draft picks that fell and was scooped up because he was too talented to pass on. Ridley does not have any special teams experience.