Ryan Poles gets big value in this Chicago Bears 2022 Mock Draft

Round 3, Pick 77: The Chicago Bears select Illinois safety Kerby Joseph

With their third pick in the top 100, the Bears decide to go defense. There is a big gap in the secondary right now, especially with how Eddie Jackson has played over the past two seasons. Outside of Jaylon Johnson, there isn’t a starter to be excited about going into 2022. Maybe, Thomas Graham Jr. continues to ascend. But, at safety, the excitement has been gone since 2019.

The Bears have long-needed a guy to pair with Jackson, and maybe to help push Jackson to become the guy he once was. Illinois’ Kerby Joseph is the pick here, and would come in as an immediate starter.

Joseph stands nearly 6-foot-1 and weighs around 200 pounds, possessing tremendous length. He was a huge riser, in terms of draft stock, over his final season with Illinois. Joseph picked off five passes in 2021 alone, while also recovering a pair of fumbles. He became the ball hawk of that Illini defense.

While he may strike you as a free safety type, Joseph is also a fairly sure tackler and could potentially slide in at strong safety. At this point in the draft, Joseph was the best player on the board, and the Bears can’t let this type of talent slide. Under Eberflus and Williams, Joseph is sure to develop into one heck of a player, even if that means playing the strong spot.