The Chicago Bears began the 2022 offseason with five total draft picks. GM Ryan Poles had an unenviable task ahead of him, trying to stock the team with young talent like that. Thanks to sacrificing Khalil Mack and a blitz of Day 3 moves, he increased that number to 11. While time will tell if those trades pay off, it was an unprecedented message by the man in charge. He intends to build this team through the draft.
So it’s time to make the final assessments. Everybody loves to do grades for a draft class, and this writer is no different. It serves as a good exercise in evaluating every decision not just based on the player selected but who the Bears passed on to take them. Was it a reach? Was it a steal? Only time will tell. Still, there were lots to decode from the frantic 48 hours of action Poles put out.
Chicago Bears 2022 Draft Report Card
.@kyler_gordon is a PLAYMAKER. 😤 pic.twitter.com/edpsk4xPUr
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 30, 2022
2nd Round (39th overall): Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Notable options still available:
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- John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
- George Pickens, WR, Georgia
- Luke Goedeke, OG, Central Michigan
Grade – A. Poles went into this draft with one thing in mind. Get the best players possible onto his football team. That means players that are talented and possibly ready to play immediately. Gordon fit the bill in every way. He’s athletic, instinctive, tough, aggressive, and has a nose for the ball. The scary part is he still hasn’t mastered his position yet. So he’s likely to get significantly better.
Jaquan Brisker is going to be a force in Chicago
— Monsters Of The Midwest (@MonstersOfMw) May 1, 2022
2nd Round (48th overall): Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
Notable options still available:
- Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
- Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
- Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
Grade – A. There were good reasons why many had Brisker ranked as a 1st round prospect. Think of him as a more athletic Adrian Amos. He plays the same way with toughness and physicality but has better range and better ball skills. The Chicago Bears don’t have many long-term options at safety right now. Eddie Jackson might be in his final year with the team due to that contract. Brisker gives them a talent with immediate starter potential and Pro Bowl upside within two or three years.
#Bears new offensive weapon WR Velus Jones 🐻⬇️🔥 pic.twitter.com/EPWOYbTSjH
— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) April 30, 2022
3rd Round (71st overall): Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee
Notable options still available:
- Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
- Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
- Danny Gray, WR, SMU
Grade – C. When it comes to fit, this pick made sense. Luke Getsy’s offense requires a wide receiver with excellent versatility. Jones did almost everything at Tennessee. He was a great kick returner, became a better receiver after some difficult early years, and is a threat out of the backfield too. There is no denying his speed and after-the-catch prowess. The problem is he’s 25. Look back over recent NFL history. Players at his position who enter the NFL around that age have seldom worked out.
.@braxtonjones742 brings the thunder. 🌩️ pic.twitter.com/dK9kodAPLl
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 30, 2022
5th Round (168th overall): Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah State
Notable options still available:
- Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
- Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
- Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
Grade – B. The Chicago Bears needed to start helping out the offensive line. When it comes to physical upside, it’s hard not to get excited about Jones. He’s 6’5 with 35-inch arms, good feet, and above-average mobility for his size. He finishes his blocks with regularity and more than held his own at the Senior Bowl. There are a lot of technical issues to fix, though, and he’ll be making a massive jump from the small school competition he was used to.
#Bears new EDGE Dominique Robinson have Luke Goedeke and Bernhard Raimann fits, both Day 2 picks, this season.
Converted WR/TE to EDGE, developmental guy with some twitchy tools.
pic.twitter.com/mwMmdnscKc— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) April 30, 2022
5th Round (174th overall): Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami of Ohio
Notable options still available:
- Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
- Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
- Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
Grade – A. Several draft experts had Robinson ranked as high as a 3rd round pick in this class. His production never took off in college, but much of that is due to his inexperience. He’s a former wide receiver. By 2021 it was evident in the constant flashes of brilliance that he was mastering the position. Then he stood out at the Senior Bowl. He’s got quickness, burst, length, and a hot motor. Once he adds more strength and additional pass rush moves, he could be good for 6-10 sacks every year.
The #Bears new OT Zachary Thomas is a mauler 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/NT42AxX2X6
— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) April 30, 2022
6th Round (186th overall): Zachary Thomas, OG, San Diego State
Notable options still available:
- Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia
- Amare Barno, EDGE, Virginia Tech
- Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
Grade – B. This is another one of those picks that are all about fit. Thomas wouldn’t be the best choice for any offense, but he’s great for the Bears’. His ability to move well in space and play with quickness are ideal traits in their zone-blocking scheme. He also has a nice mauler mentality in the run game. There are some power deficiencies as well as some technical issues. Most of that can be worked around. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up a starter as a rookie.
New Chicago Bears RB Trestan Ebner ran a 4.48 40-yrd dash.
Another offensive player with insane homerun speed.
— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) April 30, 2022
6th Round (203rd overall): Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
Notable options still available:
- Matt Henningsen, DT, Wisconsin
- Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
- ZaQuandre White, RB, South Carolina
Grade – C+. Two reasons stand out as why the Bears drafted Ebner. He’s fast with good hands and can be a threat out of the backfield as a receiver. In addition, he is a capable return man with three touchdowns on kickoffs between 2020 and 2021. Ironically, the problem with him is that he’s not an overly good running back in a traditional sense. His strength and vision are average; he lacks decisiveness and rarely creates for himself. He figures to be a special teams guy with a part-time role on offense.
Kramer has plenty of experience blocking on the move, which should fit very well with the #Bears.
He’s a coordinated athlete who does a good job of rolling his hips through contact to seal off run defenders. pic.twitter.com/F7xUSOPgto
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 30, 2022
6th Round (207th overall): Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
Notable options still available:
- JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska
- Kevin Austin Jr., WR, Notre Dame
- Jayden Peevy, DT, Texas A&M
Grade – B. It is easy at first glance to be down on Kramer. He’s only 6’2 and 299 lbs. That is small for an NFL offensive lineman. He also isn’t known for overpowering strength. Most teams would view him as a liability. However, the Chicago Bears see the potential for their scheme thanks to his outstanding mobility, intelligence, and tenacity. He rarely makes bad decisions and is often at his best in space. He should be a quality backup center at worst, but don’t underestimate him.
Big time late add by the Senior Bowl adding #Southern LT Ja’Tyre Carter! Among one of the best #HBCU prospects in this year’s draft class, showcases athleticism and power in both the run and passing games. Excited for this late add!
pic.twitter.com/iNPgMsjsw4 https://t.co/H3X8WnpsHJ
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 20, 2022
7th Round (226th overall): Ja’Tyre Carter, OL, Southern
Notable options still available:
- Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
- Verone McKinley III, S, Oregon
- Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State
Grade – A. Coming from a small school always makes a guy hard to project in the NFL. Yet when a guy doesn’t allow a sack for an entire college football season, it’s hard not to notice. Carter was dominant in pass protection for Southern, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s big, physical, and athletic for his size. His technique is better than average for somebody his age. If he was that good at tackle, he has a chance to be significantly better upon moving to guard. Whether he can improve his suspect run blocking is a question mark.
#Bears new saftey Elijah Hicks 🐻⬇️🔥 pic.twitter.com/1nnLBxmFoR
— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) May 1, 2022
7th Round (254th overall): Elijah Hicks, S, Cal
Notable options still available:
- Jack Coan, QB, Notre Dame
- Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
- Tyler Johnson, DE, Arizona State
Grade – B. Sometimes players get overlooked for reasons out of their control. Playing at a forgettable program like Cal did few favors for Hicks. Then he got injured early in the pre-draft process. He likely would’ve been a 4th or 5th round pick if he’d stayed healthy. While undersized for a safety, he has the durability and aggressiveness to hit people. Even better, his instincts and athleticism allow him to create problems in coverage for quarterbacks. Very passionate too. He has special teams stalwart written all over him.
Trenton Gill has a legitimate chance to stick around as the #Bears’ punter.
If he speeds up his delivery a little bit, he should be able to withstand the frigid Chicago winters and be a solid punter. pic.twitter.com/fmzL4rGFmb
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 30, 2022
7th Round (255th overall): Trenton Gill, P, N.C. State
Notable options still available:
- Blake Hayes, P, Illinois
- Cameron Dicker, K, Texas
- Makai Polk, WR, Mississippi State
Grade – C. Drafting specialists, in general, has always been unnecessary. Teams find good ones on the undrafted market every single year. It is obvious the Chicago Bears wanted not to have to compete for the services of Gill with another team. Having 11 picks made this decision easy for them. Still, the young punter has okay but not great leg power, and his directional ability still needs refinement.
