Round 2, Pick No. 39: The Chicago Bears select Roger McCreary, CB – Auburn
With Jaylon Johnson as the lone true cornerback for the Chicago Bears, and with the wide receiver pool being as deep as it is, the Bears’ first pick goes to Roger McCreary out of Auburn.
While McCreary isn’t the top cornerback in the draft, getting him at Pick No. 39 would be a great pick for Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears.
And even with the title of “not the top corner in the draft,” Roger McCreary would be a day-one impact player on the Bears’ defense.
In his four seasons with Auburn, Roger McCreary was an absolute force in the SEC.
In McCreary’s senior year with Auburn, he had 14 PBUs (1st in the SEC). For a team — like the Chicago Bears — that is lacking true defensive firepower, Roger McCreary fits the need almost perfectly.
The one major knock on McCreary is his arm size. Having only 28 7/8″ arms is not ideal for an NFL corner, however, his skill makes up for his lack of wingspan.
Roger McCreary seems to believe that the best way to overcome any wingspan issues is to Velcro himself to the receiver all the way through the route. pic.twitter.com/i7ZNg2MDg0
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 7, 2022
Sure, you could argue that his arm size is a red flag, but being a corner in the SEC — while also having gone against, and succeeded against, the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year in Ja’Marr Chase — there are a lot of credibilities that comes from having played these guys in college.
And while some argue that small school players can be as good as big school players, there’s a case to be made for sure. However, when talking about corners, I’m in the belief system that corners who play against SEC receivers— receivers that have been the most NFL-ready as of late— make for the best NFL corners. It’s a reactionary position, mostly, and with that, being able to shadow some of the best receivers in college football makes a big difference when transferring to the NFL.
Now, are there corners from small schools that can play at a high level in the NFL? Of course, but when selecting players in the NFL Draft, especially towards the top, it’s best to take a more polished player than a project.
Alright, with one pick down, who’s the second Round 2 selection for the Chicago Bears?