When the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft kicked off on Friday night, it was all about a few key positions of need for the Chicago Bears.
Of course, Bears fans wanted wide receiver and offensive line, but cornerback was also a major pain point — and arguably their weakest position going into the draft.
At pick No. 39 overall, the Chicago Bears solidified their cornerback position by selecting Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon. Right away, Gordon will step in and start alongside fellow second rounder Jaylon Johnson.
All of the sudden, cornerback looks like a strength for the Bears who also recently signed slot cornerback Tavon Young. If this cornerback room is healthy, then the Chicago Bears completely renovated that position with a matter of two particular players.
Kyler Gordon immediately makes the Chicago Bears’ cornerback room one to reckon with.
Gordon, specifically, should have been a first-round pick in a lot of folks’ minds. Many had him mocked in the first round along with his college teammate Trent McDuffie.
Just how good is Gordon? It’s pretty simple: he doesn’t let anybody get into the end zone. Period.
Guess how many touchdowns Kyler Gordon allowed over the past two seasons?
— Ryan Heckman (@TheRyanHeckman) April 29, 2022
Zero. The answer is zero. #Bears
Over the past two seasons, Gordon literally did not allow a single player to score on him. This past season, Gordon finished with seven passes defensed and a pair of interceptions. He also tallied 2.0 tackles for a loss, proving he is not afraid to come up and help support the run stop.
Gordon is one of the most well-rounded cornerbacks in the draft. He has the ability to play in both press coverage or off. His footwork is top-notch, as is evident on his tape. The Chicago Bears got someone who will be able to read the quarterback in a hurry, but make a move immediately once he understands where the ball is going.
When Gordon makes his read and reacts, he does so in a way that is convincing. He finishes tackles and brings a physicality that some corners lack coming into the NFL. The Bears secondary needed someone who had a little bit of dog in him, and that’s what they got in Gordon.
At outside corner, you want to have someone who takes pride in disallowing big plays and touchdowns. Gordon’s ability to deny his opposition the end zone is tremendous. Zero touchdowns allowed in 15 games — that’s an impressive feat.
Chicago’s cornerback room is now a whole lot better, thanks to Gordon’s presence. Ryan Poles took the best player on the board, and it just so happened to fit an imperative need for Chicago.