Grading every rookie from the Chicago Bears 2022 NFL Draft
By Evan Bruner
Chicago Bears Pick No. 39: Kyler Gordon, CB
The 2022 class lacked talent at several key positions, including quarterback, but it has become increasingly evident this season that cornerback was not one of them. Derek Stingley went third overall to the Texans, followed by Sauce Gardner, who went to the Jets fourth. In total, four cornerbacks went in the top 25, leaving guys Kyler Gordon, who may have gone in the first round in years prior to falling to the second.
The pick was met with skepticism. Gordon was a freakish athlete with a 9.69 relative athletic score and had solid ball skills, giving him the potential to be a high-level corner. However, many fans wanted to see Chicago take a wide receiver, especially over a guy who wasn’t even the best cornerback on his college team.
Gordon’s rookie season was truly one filled with ups and downs. He was one of the worst coverage players in football for the first quarter of the season and was routinely picked on by opposing offenses. But as the year went on, Gordon became more comfortable in coverage and finished the season with three interceptions and six passes defended.
Gordon excelled as a run defender and open-field tackler, but his inconsistency in coverage at times hurt the Bears’ defense. He still gave up the sixth most receptions of any player in the league despite missing multiple games. Fans should be optimistic about Gordon’s in-season progression, but he still has a ways to go.