The way to succeed in the NFL is relatively simple. Evaluate talent, draft talent, develop talent, keep talent. The Eagles have done extremely well and have been rewarded with two Super Bowl wins in the last eight years. Teams like the Bears? Not so much, but they have a chance to change that in the coming years.
Chicago has already started that change with the extended corner Jaylon Johnson and receiver DJ Moore, but they now have three more key contributors who are eligible for extensions. However, they cannot just extend them just for the sake of extending them. They have to evaluate all angles of the situation. Production, health, and price are all key factors that go into contract negotiations. Let’s take a look at the Bears’ 2022 draft class and if they’re worth extending or not.
Evaluating the Bears’ 2022 Draft Class Ahead of Extension Talks
Kyler Gordon, CB
Kyler Gordon has been a very solid player throughout his time in Chicago but recently has become among some of the best nickel corners in the entire sport. According to PFF, he is ranked 20th out of 222 eligible corners in the league with a 76.0 grade. However, his impact goes beyond rankings and grades.
When watching the Bears’ defense in 2024, you’ll notice a few things in particular. A lack of formidable pass rush, soft coverage on crucial downs, and a very twitchy nickel corner dancing around the line of scrimmage. Gordon would try and confuse the other teams’ quarterback by playing off the line and rushing last minute or faking rushing and making the offensive line adjust. He was sent on pass rushes the third most in the entire league last year with 48 pass rush snaps and second in total pressures with nine.
Gordon was also very solid in coverage and against the run, as well. He used his athleticism to keep up with shifty slot receivers and made his presence known in the run game.
If the Bears want to make the playoffs in 2025, extending Gordon seems to be the way to do so. A contract around the three-year $45 million mark seems like a solid starting point. That would slide him right behind D.J. Reed in terms of AAV. Kyler will make a great piece of this Dennis Allen unit for years to come.
Jaquan Brisker, S
This next player is where things start to get complicated. Jaquan Brisker‘s time as a Bear has been quite volatile. When he plays, he is a very noticeable player in the run game. He fits gaps very well and is a strong tackler, too. He may not be elite in pass coverage, but he has shown he can hold his own.
The issue with Brisker is the health concerns. This past year, he only played the first five games and spent the rest of the season on IR with a concussion. This isn’t his fault, but coupled with the fact that he’s had three diagnosed concussions in three NFL seasons, there is a fair level of concern there.
If it was just talent that needed to be evaluated, it’s a no-brainer that you extend this man. The Bears will want to see how he holds up in 2025 before offering him an extension.
Braxton Jones, LT
Braxton Jones was a fifth-round selection by the Bears in 2022. Fifth-round tackles rarely become what Braxton Jones has become. He has turned into an above-average starter who has been a positive contributor to what has been an otherwise abysmal offensive line in Chicago since the start of 2022.
Jones isn’t perfect, as we have seen with his anchor issues, but he is more than serviceable as a starting left tackle in this league. He is ranked 20th out of 141 eligible tackles, according to PFF. Like Brisker, the talent isn’t the issue with Jones. It’s the context around the position with where the market is at. A player like Dan Moore Jr. just got paid $82 million over four years. For context, he’s ranked 46th among tackles, according to PFF. The general league consensus is that the Steelers overpaid him just to fill a position on a weak offensive line.
To further complicate things, the Bears have the 10th pick in the draft later this month. They may be able to take guys like Will Campbell, Kelvin Banks Jr., or even Armand Membou if they want a younger/cheaper option.
Given these two tangents, the Bears need to decide if Braxton Jones is their LT of the future or if they are better off taking a swing in the draft.
If they choose to extend him, don’t be surprised if it’s north of $24-26 million AAV. The market is leaning that way for average tackles, and the Bears have a quarterback that they REALLY want to protect for the foreseeable future in Caleb Williams.
2025 & Beyond
General Manager Ryan Poles has some tough choices to make in the next year or so, but luckily, he gets some input from new head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson knows what it takes to build a strong team, as Detroit has been dominant the last couple of years within the division.
The two of them will have their hands full as they try and change the narrative surrounding the Chicago Bears. Decisions like extending the 2022 draft class are only the beginning of what seems to be a promising future.
Main Photo: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
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