Bears Always Value Cornerbacks

The high quality of the cornerback crop in this year's draft and the never-ending need for them makes it possible the Bears could turn that way.
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When the postseason began, Bears GM Ryan Poles called "premier positions," the places they'll always look for players.

Mock drafts and other analysis constantly focuses the Bears on two of the three premier spots he mentioned, the defensive and offensive lines. Not much is said about the other position Poles labeled premier and that's cornerback.

A cornerback's name has finally surfaced among reports of Bears top-30 visits at Halas Hall and it's Miami's Tyrique Stevenson, a 6-foot, 198-pounder who started his college career with Georgia. Stevenson just had a top-30 with the Ravens and Steelers according to NFL Network, and it was reported he had several others planned for later. Other reports retweeted by Stevenson himself mentioned the Bears as one of the teams lined up.

NFL Draft Bible has projected Stevenson as a second-round pick and the Bears have two second-rounder picks as well as the first pick of Round 3.

NFLDB describes Stevenson as a versatile cornerback.

"In coverage, Stevenson isn't asked to play press but when he does, his length and physicality show up," NFLDB reported. "He'll be able to disrupt receivers' routes at the line of scrimmage."

One of the qualities mentioned often in its analysis by NFLDB is the great strength with which Stevenson plays.

"As a run defender, Stevenson is a willing tackler and wants to come downhill," NFLDB reported. "He sheds blocks with ease and wraps up ball carriers."

The Bears earlier had been reported to have visited with Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents and Illinois' Devon Witherspoon at the combine, and had a pro day talk with Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson of TCU. Brents' stock soared at the Senior Bowl and in Todd McShay's latest mock this week the ESPN analyst has him going at 35 in Round 2. Witherspoon has long been considered a first-round pick on many draft boards.

Here's why the Bears could justify taking a cornerback as high as Round 2 when they have needs so great at defensive end, defensive tackle and offensive tackle.

1. Jaylon Johnson Contract

Their best cornerback is in his contract year and there's no telling where this could lead.

So far Poles doesn't have a successful record for retaining free agents they say they want. They said they wanted to keep Roquan Smith at first, but couldn't find "common ground." The same was true with David Montgomery.

With Johnson, Darnell Mooney, Cole Kmet and Chase Claypool all up for contract extensions, how focused will they be on one particular contract?

2. Current Quality

While Johnson has been their best coverage cornerback, he has one career interception and has missed 11 games in three years. This could also make the talks difficult because availability remains the best ability.

Johnson aside, there are still questions about second-year cornerback Kyler Gordon and starting left cornerback Kindle Vildor. 

Gordon was rated by Pro Football Focus 109th out of 118 cornerbacks last year, although he had a drastic upturn in the final four weeks of his rookie year. 

Vildor had a strong start and was playing the best ball of his career but finished on injured reserve and before he went there his passer rating against when targeted had declined near where it had been his first two years at 110.1.

One thing always to remember when judging last year's Bears cornerbacks harshly is they received little help up front from the pass rush. And they were still a top-10 pass defense as late as Week 11 before fading to 18th when injuries hit hard.

3. Depth

While a cornerback taken in Round 2 wouldn't necessarily be a depth piece, it could mean another one on the roster who plays would move down a notch. They can layer their talent and it's necessary at this position. Whether it was Poles or former GM Ryan Pace or Jerry Angelo and Phil Emery, a common theme was always a team can't have too many cornerbacks. Especially in the modern passing game this is true.

Johnson wasn't the only cornerback missing games with injuries last year. Gordon missed three, Vildor missed six, and backup Jaylon Jones missed a game.

4. Best Available Athlete

The talent for the Bears when they pick in Round 2, and possibly even Round 1, might just be too good to pass up. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, like many others, ranks cornerback the deepest position in the draft. By the second round or first pick of the third round, the Bears could acquire cornerbacks who in other years might have had first-round grades. Brents is among those. Pro Football Focus' Mike Renner had seven cornerbacks going in the first 50 picks in his latest mock draft.

 


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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.