Chicago Bears: What We Learned From the 2022 NFL Draft

Now that the 2022 NFL Draft is over, we can analyze the moves general manager Ryan Poles made. This is what we’ve learned.

The 2022 NFL Draft is now a few days over. All the dust has settled and we can take a closer look at what Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles did. Let’s take a look at the moves and what we learned over the past weekend’s activities.

• Poles turned the Chicago Bears’ secondary from a weakness to a strength.

The Bears’ secondary was bad last season. Whenever there was a moment with the game on the line that unit did something to cause a defeat. Throughout the season, we saw big plays go against them. Additionally, there were so many missed tackles.

Things should change now. Instead of trading one or both of Chicago’s second round picks, Poles decided to use them to select defensive backs. He drafted cornerback Kyler Gordon with the 39th pick and Jaquan Brisker with the 48th pick.

Additionally, Poles picked up Elijah Hicks in the seventh round. Hicks could be a contributor in the secondary as well.

Gordon will make life easier for the Bears’ CB1, Jaylon Johnson. Last season, opposing quarterbacks didn’t target him. Why would they go after a rising young star when they could go after the struggling corners?

Eddie Jackson is another winner. Ever since Adrian Amos left for Green Bay Jackson hasn’t been the same. His play steadily went down since he and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Tashaun Gipson didn’t jell. Now, with a young, athletic, and physical strong safety in Brisker, Jackson can mesh better with him.

Hicks might not be a starter but he could end up being a great backup. He can line up at free or strong safety. With Deon Bush, a good backup himself, now in Kansas City with the Chiefs, the Bears need dependable backups.

•  The wide receiver spot still needs addressing

Poles went from having only six picks in the draft to finishing with 11. With all those picks, however, he only selected one wide receiver. That prospect was Velus Jones.

Picking Jones at 71 might have been a reach for Poles. Most analysts graded him as a fourth or fifth-round pick. Additionally, he could have gone with more established talents like Skyy Moore or Geroge Pickens with his second-round pick.

Jones seems like a one-trick pony. His speed is what makes him attractive. He is a big play waiting to happen when he has the ball in his hands. For that reason, he’ll be electric for the Bears, but more so on special teams as a returner than as a receiver.

Jones runs a limited route tree. Basically, he does the screen and go routes and not much else. In his six seasons in college football, his best was in 2021 when he had 807 receiving yards. You’d expect more from a receiver with all that speed.

The Bears are still where they were when the draft started. They still have a need at wide receiver. Perhaps one of the undrafted rookie free agents help but it seems more likely that Poles has to go out and find veteran help.

• Poles stayed true to his word by drafting a ton of offensive linemen

Poles made it a point to say that he was disappointed with how the Chicago Bears offensive line played in 2021. He basically called the unit soft. He wanted to make the unit a priority and infuse it with young, athletic players. He also wanted some nastiness on the unit.

You wanted offensive linemen? Well, Poles got you offensive linemen. With his 11 picks, he selected four offensive linemen.

How quickly these linemen get on the field and contribute is the question. Again, we’re going with the understanding that the 2022 season will be another bad one. Looking at the roster you don’t see a contender. As a result, Poles could wait a couple of seasons for some of these linemen to refine their game.

Around FPC

NFL RUMORS: Deebo Samuel Rumors: Does The Wideout Want Out Of San Francisco?

NFL NEWS: Chicago Bears 2022 NFL Draft: Poles Wheels And Deals

NFL DRAFT: Giants Draft Grades For All Eleven Picks

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Fantasy Football: Rookie Running Back Rankings Post-NFL Draft

NHL: Top Five 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff Storylines

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 42: Deebo Samuel Requests Trade; Possible Landing Spots

The one player who might be ready to see some time as a reserve this season is Braxton Jones. He was All-Big Sky Conference third team in 2019. Then he made the first team in the next two seasons.

Jones himself needs to refine his game but he is more advanced than the other linemen.

• Poles believes in increasing competition to raise the level of play

Again, Poles went from six picks when the draft started to 11 when it finished. Additionally, he signed 36 undrafted players. He believes in having a competition to increase the level of play.

The more players you have to play at a position the harder they’ll play to win a spot on the roster. That is especially true on a team like the Bears, where the expectations aren’t so high. Some players will make the team who might not necessarily play on many others.

The plan here is to go all out in 2023. With nearly $120 million (likely to be higher when the new year begins) in cap space, and having a high pick (and hopefully more than the six they currently have), the Bears should have a competitive team next season. If some of these prospects shore up their game in 2022 and are ready to make a jump in 2023, then Poles and the Chicago Bears will have a jump up and really reverse their fortune.