On Friday night, the Chicago Bears used their two second-round selections in the 2022 NFL Draft to select cornerback Kyler Gordon from Washington and safety Jaquan Brisker from Penn State. Both draft picks address dire needs in the Bears’ secondary as the team had a weakness at the cornerback and safety positions. Gordon and Brisker will likely start and help solidify a defensive secondary transitioning to a Cover 2 defensive scheme under new head coach Matt Eberflus, selections that can potentially make a difference right away.

The Bears have selected Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker with the 48th overall pick in the second round. After taking Kyler Gordon nine picks earlier, Ryan Poles brings another piece in for the secondary.

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) April 30, 2022

The Gordon and Brisker Selections Help Bolster The Bears Defense Immediately

Although the Bears had several needs, new general manager Ryan Poles was limited in addressing all needs with only six selections in this year’s draft. Poles used his first two picks on Friday night to improve the weakest part of Chicago’s defense, which was the secondary. Last season, the Bears’ secondary only generated six interceptions, only one by a starting cornerback in Jaylon Johnson. Chicago played the entire 2021 season with multiple inexperienced cornerbacks playing on the other side of Johnson.

The drafting of Gordon and Brisker now gives the Bears’ defense potential long-term solutions in the secondary. The new draftees now pair with Johnson and free safety Eddie Jackson in Chicago’s starting defense in 2022. Brisker could enable Jackson to return to his 2018 form, in which he was named an All-Pro and recorded six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

One of the glaring issues with the Bears’ secondary last season, other than their lack of generating turnovers, was their lack of a credible cornerback to pair with Johnson. In 2021, opposing offenses began to target the side of the field Chicago’s second-year cornerback was not on due to a drop in talent by other Bears’ cornerbacks. Johnson was targeted less and less as the season went on due to his ability to cover opposing wide receivers. Now with Gordon, Chicago’s secondary will better suited to defend the pass and cause opposing quarterbacks to hold on the ball longer when trying to determine where to throw the ball.

#Bears CB1 Jaylon Johnson had 4 passes defended and his first career interception today.

If I'm game planning against the Bears I just don't throw his way and target whoever the nickelback and CB2 are covering.

— Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (@wiltfongjr) September 19, 2021

The Cover-2 Defense Needs A Talented Secondary To Be Successful

In transitioning 3-4 defense to a Cover-2, Eberflus will need talented players in his defensive secondary for his scheme to fully work. A Cover 2 Defense needs cornerbacks and safeties that can generate takeaways and limit deep passing plays. The Bears have an extensive history with the defensive scheme as former head coach Lovie Smith ran the scheme from 2004 to 2012. Over Smith’s eight seasons, Chicago’s defense was one of the best teams in the NFL in generating interceptions.

During the eight seasons in which the Bears ran the Cover 2 defense, their defense featured several top-level players in the secondary, including cornerback Charles Tillman, cornerback Nathan Vasher, safety Mike Brown, and safety Chris Harris. In 2005, the four players combined for 19 interceptions with the Bears, as Vasher led the defense with eight.

𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟓

Nathan Vasher returns a Brett Favre interception for a touchdown to improve the Bears to 9-3. pic.twitter.com/IjF44HIwxw

— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) December 4, 2019

One aspect that made the defensive secondary so successful was how they generated their interceptions, as several takeaways were created off of tipped passes due to excellent coverage. That is something that Eberflus will try to recreate as he studied under former Bears’ defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who was Chicago’s defensive coordinator from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, Chicago’s defense tied an NFL record with nine defensive returns for touchdowns.

Chicago potentially having an improved defensive secondary will enable their defensive pass rush to be better. In the Cover 2 defense, the pass rush is generated solely by the defensive line as linebackers are assigned to defend tight ends and running backs on passing plays. For the moment, the Bears’ defense will feature defensive end Robert Quinn and Al-Quadin Muhammad as both combined for 24.5 sacks in 2021. If Eberflus’ defensive secondary is improved in 2022, it could lead more coverage sacks.

Kyler Gordon gives the #Bears a solid cornerback with good size, smooth coverage skills and excellent instincts. Gordon possesses prototype Cover-2 CB body, comes from Pac-12 league that features passing game, and gives Matt Eberflus potential Day 1 starter. Smart, safe pick.

— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) April 29, 2022

In the three seasons the Bears made the playoffs under Smith in 2005, 2006, and 2010, the defense featured multiple defenders in the secondary with five interceptions and one defensive end with ten or more sacks. That level of defensive production is what Eberflus will try to recreate starting in 2022. Having Brisker and Gordon in place enables Chicago’s defense to begin a solid secondary immediately.

The #Bears second pick of the 2022 #NFLDraft, Jaquan Brisker, brings a diverse skill set opposite Eddie Jackson, and combined with Kyler Gordon, will level up the secondary. pic.twitter.com/ad4hMIhNkl

— BearsTalk (@TheBearsTalk) April 30, 2022

Although Bears fans may have wanted Poles and the new front office to utilize Chicago’s two second-round selections on the wide receiver and offensive line position, The front office improve the defensive secondary on Friday night. If the Bears’ new general manager found potential top-level starters in Brisker and Gordon, Eberflus’ defense will be good for years to come. Poles attempted to fix the worst part of the Bears’ defense with two selections, something that can may pay off later this season.