Bears explain their plan for top draft pick CB Kyler Gordon in rookie season

Bears CB Kyler Gordon has versatility playing in the slot and outside. So where will he line up? Chicago already has a plan for the rookie.

There’s a lot to love about Chicago Bears rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon, who was the team’s top selection in the 2022 NFL draft. Not only does Gordon project as an immediate starter, he has versatility playing outside as well as in the slot.

Which begs the question: What do the Bears envision for Gordon’s rookie season? Right now, the plan is for Gordon to play outside, presumably opposite CB1 Jaylon Johnson as a starter.

“We’re just going to let him do what he does and just kind of see how he shakes out,” defensive coordinator Alan Williams told reporters. “Just give him one thing to do, and right now, that’s outside. Then we’ll see how much he can do, how much we can push him. But as of right now, he’ll be an outside corner.”

Williams went on to explain how the nickel back position is arguably the most difficult to play on defense given the multitude of responsibilities. They’re not looking to put too much on Gordon’s plate — at least from the start — but that could certainly change down the line.

“The nickel is probably the hardest position on the football field,” Williams said. “It used to be that the nickel was the twelfth guy or the thirteenth guy that you’d have. Now in today’s football, when you have so much sub or 11 personnel, that guy is a starter. That guy is a critical piece of the defense, and that guy has to do a lot of things. He’s got to fit like a linebacker and a safety. He’s got to cover like a corner. He’s got to have the mentality of a Mike linebacker.

“So, to have him go outside and inside, it’s tough on a rookie. So, to stick him in one place and let him go and develop and learn and feel comfortable, right now, that’s the plan. But that’s the plan to be determined. I get to change it when need be if we need to.”

The Bears will ultimately do what’s best for the defense in the long run. Perhaps that includes a future switch to the slot for Gordon. But at least for now, there’s a clear plan for Gordon’s rookie season.

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Bears’ secondary among NFL’s most-improved units following draft

Bears GM Ryan Poles used his first two draft picks on Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, which immediately improved the secondary.

The Chicago Bears welcomed 11 new rookies to the roster during the 2022 NFL draft, including second-round cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker.

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear what the team’s weaknesses were — defensive back and offensive line —  as evidenced by the combined seven draft selections between the two positions.

While many were expecting the Bears to draft a wide receiver with one of those second rounders, Poles used his first two draft picks to address the secondary. In the process, he landed two immediate starters in Gordon and Brisker, who shore up the defense’s biggest weakness from last season.

According to Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey, the Bears secondary is among the most improved units following the NFL draft.

Before the draft, the Bears had two glaring starting jobs up for grabs at cornerback and safety opposite Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson. The additions of Gordon and Brisker all but answer those questions, and they’ll serve as immediate contributors for a secondary looking to rebound after a poor 2021 campaign.

Gordon, who never allowed a touchdown in 18 college starts, has the potential to develop into a lockdown corner at the NFL level. He’s a versatile cornerback — with experience playing outside and in the slot — but he projects to start on the outside opposite Johnson.

Brisker, who’s an extremely disciplined player, will step into the starting strong safety role opposite Jackson. Brisker has ball-hawking ability, and he’s someone who could wind up being the best player from this Bears draft class when all is said and done.

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Esta carta de unos padres orgullosos por su hijo en el NFL Draft nos llegó al corazón

La draft de la NFL siempre es un tiempo emocionante para jugadores y sus familias. Nos enseña que el trabajo duro vale la pena al final.

El draft de la NFL siempre es un momento emocionante para los jugadores y sus familias. Nos enseña que el trabajo duroal final vale la pena.

Después de que los Chicago Bears seleccionaron a Kyler Gordon en la segunda ronda del NFL Draft 2022, sus padres le escribieron una carta para mostrar lo orgullosos que están de él.

El detalle de la carta ya es bastante llegador y lo que dice es todavía más especial:

“Hijo, eres una luz brillante y te has convertido en un hombre de gracia, maravillosamente arraigado, humilde y muy amoroso con todos los que te rodean”, es una de las frases que se pueden leer en la carta escrita a mano que compartió la NFL a través de Twitter.

Traducción: “Hijo, eres una luz brillante y te has convertido en un hombre de gracia, maravillosamente arraigado, humilde y muy amoroso con todos los que te rodean.” Es difícil no ahogarse al ver a Kyler Gordon leer esta carta de sus padres. ❤️ @kyler_gordon | @ChicagoBears

Estos son los momentos para los que vivimos con la NFL. Siempre se siente bien saber cuánto has enorgullecido a tus padres.

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One thing to love about each of the Bears’ 11 draft picks

From Kyler Gordon’s lockdown coverage to Velus Jones Jr.’s speed, here’s one thing to love about each of the Bears’ 2022 draft picks.

While the Chicago Bears lacked a first0round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, they were still able to add multiple players that could be instant impact makers.

General manager Ryan Poles addressed some big needs on the roster, including the secondary with top selections Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, as well as a speedy playmaker in wideout Velus Jones Jr. and four offensive linemen.

Whether they were selected in the second round or seventh round, the Bears see something in each of their selections from last weekend. Let’s get to know the newest Bears a little better and discuss what there is to love about each of them. 

Projecting the Bears’ 2022 starting defense after NFL draft

After the NFL draft, we’re examining what the Bears’ starting defense currently looks like in 2022.

The 2022 NFL draft is in the books, and the Chicago Bears welcomed 11 new rookies to the roster. Even now, it’s hard to know exactly what this team will look like with an entire offseason ahead of us.

General manager Ryan Poles entered the draft with plenty of needs, including wide receiver, offensive line and defensive back. And he addressed those in some form with the additions of four offensive linemen, three defensive backs and one wideout.

Chicago used its first two draft picks to find two immediate starters in cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker, which has provided more clarity on the defensive depth chart.

After 2022 NFL draft, we’re predicting what the Bears starting defense will look like this season.

One thing to know about each Bears draft pick

With a new draft class coming to the Bears, there’s something unique about each of them. Here’s one thing to know about each new rookie:

The dust has finally settled on the 2022 NFL draft and the Chicago Bears are looking at 11 new rookies that were selected by general manager Ryan Poles last weekend.

Poles stayed put with his three original selections on Day 2 of the draft, but spent Day 3 wheeling and dealing to acquire more players in the later rounds. All in all, he focused heavily on the secondary and offensive line, while adding other players at wide receiver, running back, defensive end, and even a punter.

With so many new players coming to the Bears, there’s something unique about each of them, whether it’s a special skill they had, what they did in college, or even their close ties to the team itself.

Here’s one thing you should know about every player selected by the Bears in the draft:

Bears assign jersey numbers for their 2022 draft class

From CB Kyler Gordon to P Trenton Gill, here’s the complete list of jersey numbers for the Bears’ rookie class.

Now that the Chicago Bears 2022 rookie draft class is making their way to Halas Hall, they’ll have some new threads to really make themselves feel at home.

On Wednesday afternoon, the team announced the new jersey numbers for the 11 players selected last weekend during the 2022 NFL Draft.

From cornerback Kyler Gordon to punter Trenton Gill, here’s the complete list of jersey numbers for the team’s rookie class.

Updated look at Bears secondary depth after 2022 NFL draft

With the three defensive back additions in the NFL draft, here’s a look at where the Bears’ secondary depth stands.

The Chicago Bears selected three defensive backs in the 2022 NFL draft, an indication that general manager Ryan Poles is looking to shore up what was the defense’s biggest weakness last year.

Chicago used their first two draft picks on defensive backs — cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker, who both protect to be Day 1 starters for the Bears. Chicago also circled back around in the seventh round to add depth in safety Elijah Hicks, who becomes the fourth safety on the roster.

Following the addition of three defensive backs during the draft, here’s a look at the Bears’ secondary depth:

Breaking down Bears’ 2022 draft class: Best picks, sleepers, overall assessment

From the best pick to sleepers to biggest winner and loser, here’s our evaluation of the Bears’ rookie draft class.

The Chicago Bears welcomed 11 new rookies to the roster during the 2022 NFL draft, including two projected Day 1 starters in the secondary with cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker.

General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that the secondary and offensive line were the team’s biggest needs, as evidenced by the combined seven draft selections at those positions out of 11 picks.

While it’s far too early to start evaluating this rookie class before they’ve even hit the practice field — yet alone stepped out on an NFL field — Poles made good on his promise to acquire draft capital and build the roster his way.

Now that the 2022 draft is in the books, let’s take a closer look at this Bears rookie class, where we’re looking at the best picks, sleepers, the biggest winner and loser and beyond.

5 takeaways from the Bears’ 2022 NFL draft

From Ryan Poles acquiring more draft capital to not helping Justin Fields early, here are our takeaways following the Bears’ 2022 NFL draft.

The 2022 NFL draft has concluded, and the Chicago Bears welcomed 11 new members to their roster. For general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, it marks the close to their first draft with Chicago.

It’s hard to evaluate this rookie group considering they’ve yet to even step on a practice field yet alone the playing field. But the Bears added two impact starters in the secondary with cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker, as well as a speedy wideout in Velus Jones Jr. There are also some potential late-round gems in this draft class.

From Poles acquiring more draft picks to the need at wide receiver, here are our takeaways following the Bears’ 2022 NFL draft: