Chicago Bears Bold Prediction: Thomas Graham, Jr. wins the nickel corner spot
Anyone who follows my writing enough knows that I am high on Thomas Graham, Jr. If he did not opt-out in 2020, I think he would have gone in the third or fourth round. Without that final season, I had Graham as a fourth-round pick. The Chicago Bears got him in the sixth.
Thomas Graham will be fighting to take over the CB3 spot with the likes of Kindle Vildor and Duke Shelley. There’s a chance that Vildor does not play the nickel as he is better suited for the outside. Graham can play both spots in my opinion, but I think the quickest path to playing time for Graham is the nickel spot.
While at Oregon, Graham proved he has the ability to get his hands on the football. He averaged just shy of three interceptions per year for the Ducks. He even has an interception return for a touchdown. Graham is a solid tackler too. He averaged 60 tackles (47 solos) per year and has 10.5 tackles for loss over his three-year collegiate career.
Duke Shelley has not shown me enough to be counted on as a starting nickel. At best he can be a backup. Graham has better size too at 5’11” and 196 pounds. He’s already made a few flashes on the limited film/videos I have seen of camp. Graham will prove worthy enough and start for the Bears early in the 2021 season if not as early as Week 1.