Pro comparisons are nothing new when it comes to NFL draft prospects. It is a fun way to help fans understand what a prospect could end up being, for better or for worse. To make things a little more interesting, I decided to take a slightly different approach. Rather than compare the top Chicago Bears picks of the 2022 class to any current or former NFL players, I opted to keep things close to home.
Which former Bears do they resemble the most? This might help fans get a better grasp of what the organization may have if things go as hoped.
Chicago Bears have reasons to be excited.
Kyler Gordon – Kyle Fuller
This might seem a bit optimistic, but it’s genuinely not. From an athletic and size standpoint, Gordon and Fuller are remarkably similar. Both are 5’11 and had good-not-great 40 times at the scouting combine. They developed reputations for instinct and physicality in college too. The critical difference is Fuller was more experienced and productive coming out of Virginia Tech. That is why he went in the 1st round, and Gordon didn’t. The similarities are hard to argue if one watched them side-by-side on tape. The best part is Gordon will get to do what Fuller couldn’t, which is play in the Lovie Smith-style defense that is perfect for him.
Jaquan Brisker – Mike Brown
The easy choice felt like Adrian Amos. Similar body types. Both come from Penn State. However, upon closer examination, Brown was the better option. The former All-Pro was known best for his unique mixture of run-stopping talent around the line of scrimmage and great coverage instincts. Brisker is much the same way. People immediately call him a box safety, but they miss how dangerous he is at cutting off passing lanes. His instincts for the position should remind many of what Brown was like in the early 2000s.
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Velus Jones Jr. – Curtis Conway
Confused? Don’t be. People might be shocked by the parallels the two share. People call Jones a one-year wonder coming out of Tennessee. A return man more than a receiver. Everybody forgets that this was the same exact tag Conway had out of USC. He had one good year of production (764 yards, 5 TDs) and spent most of his college career as a dangerous returner. The Chicago Bears took a calculated risk on him in the 1st round, and he ended up becoming one of their best receivers in franchise history. Jones hopes to follow a similar path. The exciting part? He’s bigger and stronger than Conway was.
Braxton Jones – James “Big Cat” Williams
Williams didn’t even arrive in the NFL as a tackle in the early 1990s. He was a defensive lineman. The team converted him to offensive line, and after a few years, he emerged as their starting right tackle for the rest of the decade. “Big Cat” lived up to his name at 6’7, 330 lbs with long arms and surprising athleticism for his size. Jones is much the same way. He is 6’6 with 35-inch arms. The key difference is he’s 20 lbs lighter. That is why he’s seen as a left tackle instead of a right. It isn’t certain if he has the same dog mentality and nastiness as Williams did, but the physical capabilities are the same.
Dominique Robinson – Mark Anderson
This one is kind of spooky. A late bloomer in college with an exciting athletic profile who became a 5th round pick. That describes Robinson, right? Well, that description fits Anderson too. He had one year of production at Alabama, finishing with 6.5 sacks. Robinson had 6.5 sacks in his college career. Everybody remembers what happened with Anderson. He exploded for 12 sacks as a rookie, setting the Chicago Bears franchise record for a rookie. While he never duplicated that success, he had a strong NFL career with 36.5 sacks. If the organization gets something similar out of Robinson, it will be a major success.
