After sitting out the primary spherical of the NFL draft, Chicago Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles made his first alternatives Friday night time from Halas Hall.
The Bears began the night time with three picks on Day 2 — at Nos. 39 and 48 within the second spherical and 71 within the third spherical. They even have three picks on Day 3 — Nos. 148 and 150 within the fifth spherical and 186 within the sixth spherical.
Here’s a fast have a look at every of the Bears new gamers.
Kyler Gordon, cornerback, Washington
No. 39, second spherical
Height, weight: 6-0, 200
Why the Bears picked him
The Bears had a significant want for a starter at cornerback reverse Jaylon Johnson and somebody to play nickel, and now they’ve a dynamic athlete as an possibility for both position.
Gordon had two interceptions and 9 passes defended in 12 video games in 2021, being named a first-team All-Pac 12 participant. He completed his profession with 14 passes defended, 98 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two compelled fumbles. Gordon’s teammate, cornerback Trent McDuffie, was picked twenty first within the first spherical by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Analysts on the ESPN broadcast referred to as him a tricky, hard-nosed participant with good ending abilities who will slot in properly with coach Matt Eberflus’ model.
Gordon stated on the mix that he doesn’t have a desire between enjoying exterior or nickel, and Poles stated the Bears worth the pliability he gives.
Poles stated Gordon popped up of their mock-draft simulations a number of occasions, however they didn’t assume he can be out there.
“We kind of laughed it off and it was like, ‘There’s no way,’” Poles stated. “So when it actually happened it was a really cool moment, and we’re excited about adding a guy that I believe is going to be a starting-caliber corner. … His movement skills are outstanding. He’s tough. He has what we call reactive athleticism, twitchy. He’s going to help us in coverage big time.”
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Gordon ran a 4.52-second 40-yard sprint on the mix, however some inside the Bears have been excited by that, in line with scout Francis St. Paul.
“We were like, ‘Uh oh, we may have a chance now,’” St. Paul stated. “He plays way faster than that time. And you see it all the time, there are a lot of players that don’t run as fast as we’re all expecting but they play faster. And he has great play speed.”
Multiple analysts indicated Gordon nonetheless must develop his instincts and method, however Poles complimented his instincts, saying Gordon has an awesome really feel for the sport.
The Athletic ranked Gordon because the sixth-best cornerback within the draft, and he was the sixth chosen.
Scout’s take
“Just his competitiveness, toughness. This is a guy, when you speak with him, you’ll see he’s very calm. Corners, you’ve got to forget about the next play because you will get beat. And he’s one of the guys, that if he gets beat, it didn’t bother him at all, and he came back and competed more on the next play.” — St. Paul
In his personal phrases
“My favorite corner growing up, the one I watched the most was Darrelle Revis. He’s the one I kind of modeled my game after in just the way he is off the line. He’s just a technician the way he moves. … He’s just a great player.” — Gordon
You ought to know
Gordon’s mother acquired him into aggressive dancing when he was younger, and he stated he traveled across the nation for competitions in lyrical, ballet and hip hop. He additionally did martial arts.
St. Paul stated you possibly can see his dance background in his play.
“You see it in his balance,” St. Paul stated. “You see it in his change of direction. He ran a 6.67(-second) three-cone. And the most impressive (thing) about it, he was stumbling and pulled out of that stumble and to finish with that time. …If he didn’t stumble, that time would have been amazing.”
Analyst’s take
“He ran in the low 4.5s (in the 40-yard dash at the combine), but he plays so much faster than that and can really find and play the ball. … He’s got the size and length that you love. He’s big-time explosive. … He’s a dynamic athlete.” — NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah
Jaquan Brisker, security, Penn State
No. 48, second spherical
Height, weight: 6-1, 199
Why the Bears picked him
The Bears want a security to begin alongside Eddie Jackson, and Brisker could possibly be that participant.
Brisker was named a second-team All-American by a number of retailers as a fifth-year senior in 2021 after transferring from junior school in 2019. A defensive chief for the Nittany Lions, he had 153 tackles, 9½ for a loss, 5 interceptions and 14 go breakups in 34 video games and 21 begins.
In his senior season in 2021, he had 64 tackles, 5½ for a loss, two interceptions, 5 go breakups, and a fumble restoration.
Poles lauded his toughness, his team-first mentality and his potential to rise to the event, noting a key interception towards Wisconsin.
“One of those attributes you look for in players is can he make big plays in big moments?” Poles stated. “And he showed that over and over in his career, so we’re excited about him.”
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Brisker, who was The Athletic’s fifth-ranked security, got here up via the junior school ranks, so he spent 5 years in school. He performed via a shoulder damage in 2021.
Scout’s take
“You’re talking about a big guy that‘s physical. We like his toughness. We like his ball skills. … A guy that has got speed, range, ball skills, plus he brings the physical side of the game that we like. Obviously with ‘Flus and his defense, wanting to be a physical team, he also brings that aspect of it too.” — Bears scout Chris Prescott
In his personal phrases
“I just think leading by example is very important, whether that’s off the field or on the field. Off the field, my teammates can depend on me, especially working out on my own, them calling me or reaching out or me reaching out to them. And also the head coach can always depend on me to do the right thing.” — Brisker
You ought to know
Brisker performed two seasons at Lackawanna Community College earlier than transferring to Penn State in 2019.
“You just take everything one day at a time,” Brisker stated. “But really (I learned to) just be humble from the beginning. Me going through junior college is going to help me a lot. It helped me be more mature and helped me see where I was at.”
Analyst’s take
“Jaquan Brisker was a favorite of (Penn State coach) James Franklin’s from start to finish. … Really a versatile safety. He’s not just an in-the-box type.” — ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Velus Jones Jr., large receiver, Tennessee
No. 71, third spherical
Height, weight: 6-0, 204
Why the Bears drafted him
Jones is a speedy receiver who ran a 4.31-second 40-yard sprint on the mix.
He spent 4 years at USC, together with a redshirt freshman yr, earlier than transferring to Tennessee for 2 years. He had a career-high 62 catches for 807 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2021.
He was the SEC co-special groups participant of the yr in 2021. He had 41 kick returns for 1,026 yards and a landing in two seasons at Tennessee and added 18 punt returns for 272 yards in 2021.
Poles stated the Bears worth Jones’ potential for use in a number of methods.
“I was looking for those guys that are explosive and they’re playmakers and they can help in many different areas, and that’s what this kid is,” Poles stated. “And while you get an opportunity to fulfill him, you’ll perceive that he’s completely different. He’s particular. There’s one thing about him. … There’s simply an aura about him.
“There’s a lot of really cool traits. This guy breaks a lot of tackles. He can take the top off. His run off the catch is outstanding. He’s big, too. … This isn’t like a skinny, fast dude. This is a strong, violent runner. He used to be a running back, too. There’s a lot we can do.”
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
After spending six seasons in school, Jones turns 25 in May and nonetheless wants to indicate enchancment in his route working, in line with analysts.
“He’s a mature 25, as opposed to being an older guy who acts like a younger guy and falls in with the college crowd,” Bears scout Sam Summerville stated. “He’s very humble and he’s very hungry.”
Scout’s take
“He was one of the guys that took advantage of that COVID year and came back, and it really helped him to refine different parts of his game. The more I watched him, the more I saw him improve. Even going through this season, you see a different player end the season than what you saw earlier. … In particular I would say he got better with route running and things down the field. I think he has always been dynamic with the ball in his hands. He has continuing to add those different aspects to his game.” — Summerville
In his personal phrases
“Ball-in-hand guy, it doesn’t mean just short passes. When the ball touches my hands from an over route, curl route, an out route, I’m going to make something happen, especially with the mentality I have. It came from my father: never, ever get tackled by the first person. That’s something that I’ve been living. That’s something that I was able to put on film and prove I’m one of the best ball-in-hand guys in the nation.” — Jones
You ought to know
Jones dismissed questions on being a 25-year-old rookie, noting his lack of main accidents throughout his profession.
“Age is nothing but a number,” he stated. “I feel like injuries affect you no matter how old you are. I was fortunate. The biggest injury I ever had was a high ankle sprain. Never tore anything, broke anything, so I have the body of, like, a 21-year-old. Age is nothing but a number. A lot of people try to make it a big issue, but at the end of the day, I can play ball, I’m physical, I can run, I can make plays.”
Analyst’s take
“To me the most Deebo (Samuel)-like player — and it would definitely be Deebo-like, he’s not the same talent — but Velus Jones from Tennessee is kind of that guy that’s really, really sturdy and strong and explosive. Like real, real, real fast, somebody on jet sweeps. You see it in the kick return game with him, as well. Just get him the ball and let him go.” — Jeremiah
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Source: www.bostonherald.com