Talk to people around the NFL, there are few football minds who are more respected than Jim Nagy. The man was a scout for 18 years in the league. During that time he helped win four Super Bowl championships with three different teams. Now he is the Executive Director of the Senior Bowl. One of the biggest pre-draft events every year. So this guy’s eye for talent is as good as it gets. That’s why it was so encouraging to hear what he had to say about the Chicago Bears and their work in the draft.
Like any person with scouting in his blood, Nagy loved to focus his attention on Day 3 of the action. This is where the overlooked players tend to come off the board. Players that scouts often love to bang the table for. When evaluating Chicago’s haul, he pinpointed two names that fans should get to know sooner than later.
Gipson turned heads in 2019 when he collected eight sacks and 15 tackles for a loss despite many believing he played out of position. Vildor began to emerge in 2018 as a tough, opportunistic cornerback who seemed to save his best for the biggest games. He had an interception against Clemson in 2018. He also had one in the Cure Bowl last season against Liberty.
Chicago Bears made it clear they wanted both players
It’s interesting that Nagy mentions those two. Based on how the 5th round played out, it was evident that GM Ryan Pace was determined to get both players. This was accomplished when he traded the Bears’ 4th round pick in 2021 to the Vikings in exchange for pick #155 of the 5th round. This enabled them to grab Gipson while still hanging onto their original 5th rounder at #163. This they used to grab Vildor.
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The skinny on both guys is they’re rugged and play physical. Each carries a notable chip on his shoulder. They come from neighborhoods that toughened them up. Each also brings a noticeable upside with their athleticism. Belief is at the very least the Bears got themselves two talented backups at two vital positions on their defense. If either is able to take a big step forward as Nagy hints could happen?
Then the Bears got themselves a steal.
