Taking a closer look at all 11 Bears draft picks, from Kyler Gordon to Trenton Gill
Bears general manager Ryan Poles has completed his first draft class — and it’s much bigger than originally planned.
After drafting two defensive backs and a wide receiver in the second round Friday, Poles engineered four trades Saturday to increase his Day 3 picks from three to eight.
The Bears ended the weekend with 11 newly drafted players, including four offensive linemen, an edge rusher, a running back, safety and punter.
Here’s a look at each of their new players.
No. 39, second round: Kyler Gordon, cornerback, Washington Height, weight: 6-0, 200 Why the Bears picked him
The Bears had a major need for a starter at cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson and someone to play nickel, and now they have a dynamic athlete as an option for either role.
Gordon had two interceptions and nine passes defended in 12 games in 2021, being named a first-team All-Pac 12 player. He finished his career with 14 passes defended, 98 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.
Gordon’s teammate, cornerback Trent McDuffie, was picked 21st in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Analysts on the ESPN broadcast called him a tough, hard-nosed player with good finishing skills who will fit in well with coach Matt Eberflus’ style.
Gordon said at the combine that he doesn’t have a preference between playing outside or nickel, and Poles said the Bears value the flexibility he provides.
Poles said Gordon popped up in their mock-draft simulations a few times, but they didn’t think he would be available.
“We kind of laughed it off and it was like, ‘There’s no way,’ ” Poles said. “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 dash at the combine, but some within the Bears were excited by that, according to scout Francis St. Paul.
“We were like, ‘Uh oh, we may have a chance now,’ ” St. Paul said. “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 still needs to develop his instincts and technique, but Poles complimented his instincts, saying Gordon has a great feel for the game.
The Athletic ranked Gordon as the sixthbest cornerback in the draft, and he was the sixth selected.
No. 48, second round: Jaquan Brisker, safety, Penn State Height, weight: 6-1, 206 Why the Bears picked him
The Bears need a safety to start alongside Eddie Jackson, and Brisker could be that player.
Brisker was named a second-team All-American by multiple outlets as a fifthyear senior in 2021 after transferring from junior college in 2019. A defensive leader for the Nittany Lions, he had 153 tackles, 9 ½ for a loss, five interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 34 games and 21 starts.
In his senior season in 2021 he had 64 tackles, 5 ½ for a loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Poles lauded his toughness, his teamfirst mentality and his ability to rise to the occasion, noting a key interception against Wisconsin.
“One of those attributes you look for in players is can he make big plays in big moments?” Poles said. “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 fifthranked safety, came up through the junior college ranks, so he spent five years in college. He played through a shoulder injury in 2021.
No. 71, third round: Velus Jones Jr., wide receiver, Tennessee Height, weight: 6-0, 204 Why the Bears drafted him
Jones is a speedy receiver who ran a 4.31second 40-yard dash at the combine.
He spent four years at USC, including a redshirt freshman year, before transferring to Tennessee for two years. He had a career-high 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021.
He was the SEC co-special teams player of the year in 2021. He had 41 kick returns for 1,026 yards and a touchdown in two seasons at Tennessee and added 18 punt returns for 272 yards in 2021.
Poles said the Bears value Jones’ ability to be used in several ways.
“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 said. “And when you get a chance to meet him, you’ll understand that he’s different. He’s special. There’s something about him . ... There’s just 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 college, Jones turns 25 in May and still needs to show improvement in his route running, according to 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 said. “He’s very humble and he’s very hungry.”
No. 168, fifth round: Braxton Jones, offensive tackle, Southern Utah Height, weight: 6-5, 310 Why the Bears drafted him
The Bears are looking to add more talent and depth to their offensive line in order to better support young quarterback Justin Fields. That led Poles to take a swing on Jones, who is lauded for his length, quickness and feel for the game. Jones showed good footwork and bend during his college career and also has the kind of nasty edge Poles is looking to for the offensive line. He has a chance to be a solid run blocker on the next level. Jones started 30 games at Southern Utah.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
According to some talent evaluators, Jones can be inconsistent with his fundamentals and may be particularly vulnerable as a pass protector against elite NFL defenders. He’s also coming from a struggling Football Championship Subdivision program in the Big Sky and will almost certainly need time to develop.
No. 174, fifth round: Dominique Robinson, edge rusher, Miami (Ohio) Height, weight: 6-5, 253 Why the Bears drafted him
Robinson was a high school quarterback who started his career at Miami as a wide receiver. He transitioned to edge rusher in 2020. In his fifth and final year at Miami, he had 29 tackles, 8 ½ tackles for a loss, 4 ½ sacks and four quarterback hurries.
Bears scout Brendan Rehor said Robinson has the traits, including outstanding athletic ability, to be worth a risk on a still-developing player.
He saw Robinson show up against Central Michigan against offensive lineman Luke Goedeke, who was drafted Friday in the second round, and said Robinson also impressed at the Senior Bowl.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Robinson had only two years of collegiate experience on defense, and so still has development ahead.
Rehor said Robinson still has to improve in the run game. Robinson said he considers himself to be “really, really raw.”
“I’ve been working on some new stuff,” Robinson said. “I was a one-dimensional player, kind of. I only had one move throughout college. I wanted to add some power. I wanted to add some things that come off of power, and I think I’ve been doing that pretty well on a consistent basis during this off time.”
No. 186, sixth round: Zachary Thomas, offensive lineman, San Diego State Height, weight: 6-5, 308 Why the Bears drafted him
Offensive line was one of the first positions Poles identified needing work when he was hired. The right guard job appears wide open during the middle of the offseason workout program. While it is a long shot Thomas will be able to push for that spot, it’s reasonable to believe that with a year of development, he will be in position to help the team in a year. Thomas made 30 starts for the Aztecs and while he primarily played tackle in college, he projects as a guard in the NFL.
He has toughness and durability and plays with good leverage. The Bears were in on Thomas early in the process and used one of their top-30 visits to get to know him better. The Aztecs have a run-dominated scheme with zone blocking so that might help Thomas make the adjustment to the professional level.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
He needs a little more polish with his handwork and lacks the athletic ability to be considered more than a guy that can get you through a game at offensive tackle.
No. 203, sixth round: Trestan Ebner, running back, Baylor Height, weight: 5-11, 206 Why the Bears drafted him
Ebner was the Big 12 special teams player of the year in 2021, when he had 23 kick returns for 511 yards and a touchdown and seven punt returns for 154 yards. He totaled 4,542 all-purpose yards over his five-year career at Baylor, with 1,690 rushing yards and 1,515 receiving yards. He had four return touchdowns.
The Bears already have running backs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, but Ebner’s return prowess and pass-catching abilities give him a chance to latch on with the Bears as a change-of-pace back. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Poles spoke earlier in the week about the depth of the running back class, and Ebner is one of those players with Day 3 value. Ebner was a complementary piece on offense to running back Abram Smith, who had more than 1,600 rushing yards last season.
No. 207, sixth round: Doug Kramer, center, Illinois Height, weight: 6-2, 299 Why the Bears drafted him
Kramer is a smart center with a ton of Big Ten experience. He made 48 starts over five seasons for the Illini, taking advantage of an extra COVID-19 year. Kramer was a threetime captain, so he was a leader under Lovie Smith and Bret Bielema. He was the third of four offensive linemen drafted on the day with a goal of infusing the group with fresh talent for position coach Chris Morgan to develop.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Kramer was a little undersized in the Big Ten and his size will be an obstacle for him in the NFL, especially when he goes up against larger interior defensive linemen. He tries to make up for that lack of bulk with quickness, hand placement and angles.
No. 226, seventh round: Ja’Tyre Carter, offensive lineman, Southern Height, weight: 6-3, 311 Why the Bears drafted him
Continuing a shopping spree on offensive linemen, Poles went back to the FCS for Carter, a left tackle in college who will almost certainly shift inside to guard at the next level. Carter has prototypical size for an interior offensive lineman and plays with confidence. He was a four-year starter at Southern and exhibits grit when he plays. Bears talent evaluators were impressed by the way he moves at his size.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Carter lacks elite burst, agility and strength, limiting his long-term upside. As a Day 3 dice roll, he has a skill set worth gambling on. But it is far from a given that he will remain with the Bears beyond the preseason.
No. 254, seventh round: Elijah Hicks, safety, Cal Height, weight: 5-11, 203 Why the Bears drafted him
Hicks made 46 starts during in college and completed a successful transition from cornerback to safety for his final season. He was an All-Pac-12 selection in 2021, showing an ability to be opportunistic on the back end. He had three interceptions and forced four fumbles last season with the kind of aggressive mentality that may fit well with Bears coach Matt Eberflus’ “H.I.T.S.” philosophy.
Hicks has enough talent to compete for a role in the Bears secondary while also having proven ability on special teams. He is also a high-character prospect who was a nominee for the Pac-12’s Scholar Athlete of the Year Award as well as a semifinalist for the Jason Witten College Man of the Year award, which recognizes courage, integrity and sportsmanship.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
It’s still a bit of a projection on what Hicks can be as an NFL safety after he spent the majority of his college career at cornerback. He will have to continue to improve his vision on the back end and take to coaching to mold himself into a regular contributor on defense.
No. 255, seventh round: Trenton Gill, punter, North Carolina State Height, weight: 6-4, 220 Why the Bears drafted him
The Bears let Pat O’Donnell — their punter the last eight seasons — go to the Green Bay Packers in free agency. So they had a need at the position, though Ryan Winslow is also on the roster.
Gill was the N.C. State punter for three seasons and had 65 punts for 2,928 yards in 2021, with a long of 65. He had 31 punts inside the 20-yard line and 23 punts of 50 yards or more. He averaged 45.8 yards per punt for his career.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Three punters went before Gill — Penn State’s Jordan Stout and Georgia’s Jake Camarda in the fourth round, and San Diego State’s Matt Araiza in the sixth round.
“It was definitely cool to see because I knew the more people went, the more attention I’d get and the more demand there would be for me because the supply was getting lower,” Gill said. “It’s great to see teams starting to draft more special teams players as well. They kind of see the importance of specialists.”