5 Chicago Bears who have been pleasant surprises

When the Chicago Bears drafted Kyler Gordon some fans thought that Kindle Vildor was going to get cut. They apparently had Gordon outside with Tavon Young in the slot, and even Thomas Graham was thought to be ahead of Vildor.

Graham has failed to meet expectations and Young failed to stay healthy, which may have saved Vildor. However, he may have been ready to win the job himself, because his third NFL season has clearly been his best.

With Jaylon Johnson injured, he was asked to be the de facto number one for a few games. He had a great game against Brandin Cooks, and one of the Eddie Jackson interceptions this season is because Vildor tipped the ball to him.

The team asked him to defend Justin Jefferson after the first quarter and he slowly kept Jefferson in check. He also added a pick in that game. Against the Commanders, he played excellently with a strong breakup.

Vildor is only in year three. While he struggled in his second NFL and first-year starting, it is not a huge shock that a player could take a step forward after that start. Beyond that, the zone scheme seems to fit his skills better.

With all of that said, Vildor is another player that is outplaying even the biggest homers’ thoughts this season.