The Chicago Bears did not have first-round picks this year, but that did not stop the franchise from getting busy over the second and third days. During the final six rounds of the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears picked 11 players. Three of the players added on the third day could quickly become key contributors in 2022.
On the third day, they also selected eight players over the final three rounds, further adding potential depth to the team’s roster. This was the first Bears draft under the stewardship of Ryan Poles. The new manager is trying to establish a core that will drive long-term success for the Bears.
However, it will take a few years to tell whether Ryan Poles was successful with his drafting this offseason. Fortunately, some of the rookies that made it to the roster could prove their potential as soon as the regular season commences.
With the year’s rookie class intact, below are some takes for the upcoming season. If you are looking to bet on the Bears, check out the Illinois betting sites reviewed by Bestbettingsites.com.
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The Impact of drafting Illinois C Doug Kramer
Ryan Poles is not shy about establishing competition for the interior of the Bears’ offensive line. The team selected center Doug Kramer as their third interior lineman pick in this year’s draft window. Kramer was selected alongside Zachary Thomas and Braxton Jones on the third day of the 2022 NFL draft.
Kramer is an Illinois local, having grown up in Hinsdale, a western suburb of Chicago. The player is a skilled and experienced center who is also known to double as a guard. This explains why many view Kramer as the team’s future at the center, with the right guidance.
Considering that Doug Kramer went to school a few hours south of Chicago, the Chicago Bears fanbase is happy to see him join the Bears.
As a senior, Doug Kramer was awarded the All-Big Ten second team and Pro Football Focus ranked him the 26th-best center in the United States of America. Kramer is also a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
In 2021 alone, Doug Kramer allowed no sacks and just three hurries in a total of 388 block snaps. During the early days of his career at Illinois, Kramer received the third-best true pass set blocking grade among centers from Power Five conferences from Pro Football Focus.
Kyler Gordon with The Chicago Bears
The bears’ first pick for the 2022 NFL draft came at number 39, opting to fill one of the holes on the team’s defense. The franchise needed a cornerback who can easily start on the opposite side of Jaylon Johnson and Gordon was the perfect fit.
While the 22-year-old Gordon might not have received much hype like his fellow Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, he still holds the potential to become a strong defensive back for the Chicago Bears.
Kyler Gordon played for the Huskies for four years and had his best time in 2021 with two interceptions and 45 tackles in 12 games.
“The greatest thing about Kyler Gordon is that his movement skills are impeccable. He is tough and has reactive athleticism, twitchy. Gordon will help make the defense better and improve our coverage big-time,” commented Ryan Poles.
Gordon has proven time and again that he is not afraid of taking risks. He portrayed his ability to jump right in front of passes at the college level. Gordon will be a key part of tightening the Chicago defense in 2022 during his rookie season.
Bears Drafts Tackler Jaquan Brisker
Nine picks following Chicago drafting Gordon, they picked yet another defensive back, which came as a surprise to many. It’s argued that Pole is looking for safety and filling the holes that compromise the offense.
The Bears drafted Penn State Jaquan Brisker at number 48. This 23-year-old has consistently put-up strong numbers for the Nittany Lions over the past three seasons. Therefore, it will not be surprising to see Brisker stage a show at the Bears this season.
It is likely that Jaquan Brisker will be an immediate starter with Eddie Jackson. According to Poles, Brisker has the ability to make big plays by seizing big moments. This player will bring some strong action to the Bears in the upcoming season.
However, Chicago might still have to endure a few struggles before turning the corner completely. Fortunately, there could be numerous opportunities for Jaquan to make significant tackles. His 2022 rookie campaign will determine the future of his football career.
Velus Jones Jr.
Chicago Bears selected Velus Jones Jr. from Tennessee as the No. 71 pick during the third round. However, there were other wide receivers on the board who probably even ranked higher than Jones. This group included Purdue’s David Bell, South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert, and Memphis’ Calvin Austin III.
It is not yet clear why the Bears drafted Jones and not any of the other top talents. Besides, the 25-year-old was among the oldest players in the draft class. That notwithstanding, Jones has plenty of college experience. He was with the USC for four years before transferring to Tennessee, where he has been playing for the past two seasons.
Jones did not put up sufficient receiving numbers during his first five years at the college level. Regardless, he had seven touchdowns and 62 catches for 807 yards in 13 games for the Vols last year. This had the impact of raising his draft stock.
Not only can Velus Jones improve the Bears’ game in numerous ways, but he is also a fast runner. Jones can run the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds. While some fans are still skeptical about this pick, Jones has a great chance to prove his critics wrong upon getting on the field later in the upcoming season.
Final Thoughts
The new NFL drafts will help increase the Bears’ gameplay in the 2022-2023 season. Besides Doug Kramer and the rookies, other significant Bears drafting include Miami edge rusher Dominique Robinson, San Diego State tackle Zachary Thomas, and left tackle, Braxton Jones.
With these fresh talents joining the franchise, the Chicago Bears will have new energy to put up stiff competition in the upcoming NFL season.
