One of the most exciting weeks in the NFL has sadly come to a close. Draft weekend was full of surprises this year, with many shocking trades on draft night, quarterbacks sliding that were expected to go in the first round, etc. Many teams did not do what mock drafts and analysts predicted, causing a lot of unpredictability this year. The Bears were one of these teams, and with numerous holes on their roster, most fans and analysts did not know which route they were going to take on draft night. GM Ryan Poles decided to go the best player available route, which caused some controversy within the fanbase. The first three picks they made on day 2 left the fanbase torn, as some wanted them to go more offensive focused instead of picking defensive players. Here is my honest grade of each of the three day 2 Bears draft picks.
Pick #39 (2nd Round): Kyler Gordon
With their first pick, the Bears nabbed a day 1 starter at corner with Kyler Gordon. I personally really like this pick. We have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, and Gordon’s athleticism and football IQ instantly upgrades the unit. He has zero injury history and is only 22 years old coming off two back to back seasons where he did not allow a single touchdown, which makes him too enticing to pass up for the needy secondary. His agility and speed provides him with the explosiveness to come in and instantly be our number one cornerback.
Grade: A
Pick #48 (2nd Round): Jaquan Brisker
While I think a receiver for Fields would have been the ideal pick in this position, especially with George Pickens and Skyy Moore still on the board, I think this pick is still solid. Brisker’s length and athleticism allows him to make exciting plays, and he is also elite in coverage as he has only allowed one touchdown in 1,000 snaps. The Bears should go from a bottom 10 ranked secondary to an above average one with these additions, as Brisker should also be a day one starter and puts us over the edge to give us a respectable unit out there.
Grade: B+
Pick #71 (3rd Round): Velus Jones Jr.
The highly anticipated receiver the Bears selected on draft night was a bit of a head scratcher to me. After going the best player available route with the first two picks in round two, the Bears decided to reach for need and select Jones in the third. While Jones athleticism and ability to flourish after the catch does give him potential to be successful in the offense, he is limited in route running and definitely not a true WR1. He comes off as more valuable on special teams, as he is known for his kick and punt returning ability. He is also turning 25 years old this month, making him one of the oldest rookies in the class. I’m hoping I can be proven wrong, but I see his ceiling being limited with his older age and mediocre route running.
Grade: C
These are my honest grades and evaluations of the Bears day two draft picks. What would you grade the Bears picks? Let me know in the comments.