The 2022 NFL Draft has officially kicked off, and the Chicago Bears have made their first selection. As the seven rounds progress and the team makes all of their picks, we will provide a live draft grade and analysis for each of the Bears’ selections. How do these new prospects fit with the roster, what kind of impact will they have on the team, and what do the team’s needs look like now that the draft is complete?
Make sure to continue to check back as the 2022 NFL Draft continues for live Chicago Bears draft grades and analysis.
Chicago Bears grades for 2022 NFL Draft
What are the Bears’ grades for their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?
Round 2, Pick 39: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
The Chicago Bears nabbed Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Securing Gordon, the Bears have another lockdown cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson. Gordon is arguably one of the most pro-ready cornerbacks in this class, hailing from Jimmy Lake’s tutelage. Though his tenure as Washington’s head coach didn’t go as planned, Lake certainly knew his way around cornerbacks – and good ones at that.
Gordon comes fully equipped with positional versatility but shines on the outside. He made The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for good reason and backed that up with his pre-draft testing and on-field tape. He’s rangy and sticky in coverage and presents as a sure tackler in the open field.
Grade: B+
Round 2, Pick 48: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
The Bears lacked a great deal of early-round capital in the 2022 NFL Draft. And with the capital they did have, they chose to use it on bolstering their secondary – a point of emphasis for new head coach Matt Eberflus. With the 48th pick, the Bears selected Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker.
With Eddie Jackson’s recent regression and questions at the other safety spot, Brisker makes sense. With how thin the offensive line class is, it might’ve been more prudent to draft a blocker to protect Justin Fields here. But Brisker is a solid player with high upside. He’s a great size/speed athlete who can crash the box, stack and shed, and make tackles in space. He also has good ability in coverage and owns the ball skills to generate turnovers. He can thrive in two-high, box, and big-slot reps.
Grade: B+
Round 3, Pick 71: Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee
It’s a tough evaluation here for the Bears who, yes, get Justin Fields a weapon who can work inside and outside. However, Velus Jones Jr. is 25 years old and is a former running back during his time at USC. There isn’t a lot of refinement in his game, and he presents more opportunities on special teams than he does in the receiving corps in Chicago.
Jones is fast, but his impact in the Bears’ offense may be limited right away. He doesn’t have a ton of routes. Jones doesn’t possess elite separation and is uber-reliant upon his speed. There certainly were other much better receiver options here.
Grade: F
Round 5, Pick 168: Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
After addressing defense with their first two picks, their next two have been spent attempting to provide support for Justin Fields. Finding a long-term answer at right tackle figured to be a key objective in this class. Can Southern Utah’s Braxton Jones be that piece?
At 6’5 1/8”, he boasts NFL size. He also has elite length, with officially measured 36” arms. He’s put those to devastating use at the FCS level, routinely punching with stunning violence. He’s powerful. He’s athletic. Jones also has some impressive technical refinement to his game. If he can continue to develop, he has the potential to hold down the right-hand side of the Bears’ offensive line.
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 174: Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami (OH)
A former WR-turned-intriguing-EDGE prospect, Dominique Robinson has an eye-catching physical profile. At 6’4” and 254 pounds, he also possesses an 82” wingspan while showcasing remarkable athletic ability. The on-field result is impressive.
He’s still learning the tricks of the trade, but Robinson has demonstrated great explosiveness and an alluring bend off the edge. While he had some steady production at Miami (OH), he’s shown he can mix it with the best at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl. This is a great developmental pass-rush pick for the Chicago Bears.
Grade: A
Round 6, Pick 186: Zachary Thomas, OT, San Diego State
Continuing the focus on supporting Justin Fields with offensive line pieces, the Chicago Bears take San Diego State offensive tackle Zachary Thomas after adding Braxton Jones earlier in the 2022 NFL Draft. Thomas is explosive out of his stance, plays with good pad level, and boasts an impressive understanding of leverage. He also displays good run-blocking ability.
Meanwhile, his footwork in pass protection suggests there’s development potential at the NFL level. At the worst, he might be a contender to switch inside to guard at the next level. Unranked on the PFN Top 300 Big Board, Thomas might be considered a reach for the Bears.
Grade: B-
Round 6, Pick 203: Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
From a pure value perspective, this pick has some appeal for the Bears. Trestan Ebner can be a nice addition to the rotation with his versatility and burst in space. Ebner went for over 1,500 receiving yards in his time at Baylor. On the other hand, he also has enough frame density to take carries between the tackles and sift through congestion. Ebner has some rotational appeal as well as special-teams ability. Still, the Bears might have been better served stacking a receiver here.
Grade: C+
Round 6, Pick 207: Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
It’s unclear what the Bears will do on the interior offensive line right now. They have Lucas Patrick and Cody Whitehair among others, but the center position isn’t set in stone. At this point, Illinois’ Doug Kramer provides a nice depth piece with possible starting upside. Kramer is undersized at just 6’2”, 299 pounds. He’s also a little high-cut and can be stiff on recovery. But he flashes great hip fluidity when flipping to seal off reach blocks, and he’s quick and violent off the snap, possessing good awareness in traffic.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 226: Ja’Tyre Carter, OT, Southern
The Chicago Bears continue to add offensive line talent in the hope of finding some protection for Justin Fields. While Carter has significant experience at left tackle during his college career, he’s another prospect who could see a transition to guard at the next level.
He’s somewhat shorter than you’d like for an NFL tackle. However, he has a thick frame that, combined with his venomous punch on contact, could do some serious damage in small spaces. If Carter can harness his traits to become slightly more dominant, the Bears will have a reliable depth piece on the interior from their late-round investment.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 254: Elijah Hicks, S, California
Elijah Hicks likely profiles as a special-teams player for the Bears. He’s not the biggest player, nor is he an elite athlete. He did flash some range on the back end with California, though it was more attributed to his awareness than long speed or burst. Hicks can tackle in the open field, which generates more special-teams appeal in the immediate timeline. He likely won’t be a consistent factor on the defensive side of the ball.
Grade: C+
Round 7, Pick 255: Trenton Gill, P, NC State
Heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, we knew we were looking at a class that puts the “special” into special teams. With the three big names off the board, the Chicago Bears bring in NC State punter Trenton Gill to provide some camp competition for Ryan Winslow.
While Gill gets decent hang time on the ball (which is more important than a lot of people give credit for), he’s inconsistent in accuracy and power. His per-punt average of 41.5 yards last season was 10 yards shorter than San Diego State’s Matt Araiza. With Colorado State’s Ryan Stonehouse on the board, this feels like a reach.
Grade: C
What were the Bears’ biggest needs entering the draft?
- OT, WR, G, C, EDGE
The Bears need to make sure that supporting Justin Fields is a major priority for the 2022 season. Accordingly, they entered the draft with four of their top five needs being either on the offensive line or at pass catcher. If they want to be able to properly evaluate their young QB, he needs support, especially up front.
On defense, there are needs spotted everywhere. However, the biggest need is replacing Khalil Mack following his trade to the Chargers.