When it comes to the draft, fans tend to focus on the stars of tomorrow. The next great offensive and defensive players. Yet football isn’t a two-phase game. Special teams is just as important. Chicago Bears fans probably understand this better than most. Ask them about Devin Hester being a Hall of Famer or just mention the name Cody Parkey. It might not carry the same glamour, but its importance can’t be understated.
That is why smart teams always look to use the back end of an NFL draft to seek out potential help on special teams. For all the grief Ryan Pace gets as GM, this is something he’s done exceedingly well since he took over in 2015. Several of his Day 3 picks have gone on to become standout performers in the third phase.
- Deon Bush
- DeAndre Houston-Carson
- Tarik Cohen
- Joel Iyiegbuniwe
- Javon Wims
- Duke Shelley
It appears the Bears could be on the hunt for such types again this year.
According to Justin Melo of The Draft Wire, they’ve been in contact with Auburn safety Jordyn Peters. This isn’t a name that hasn’t gotten a lot of draft buzz. Somewhat unusual since he plays for a prominent program, and has NFL size at 6’0 and 202 lbs. He also established himself as one of the best special teams players in the SEC with five blocked kicks or punts in his career.
Auburn SAF Jordyn Peters, 6-0, 202. Peters had a big Pro Day with a 39.5-inch vert & 10-4 broad. Peters blocked 5 kicks/punts in college. Really good special teams player.
Peters has met virtually with the #Saints, #Eagles, #Chargers, #Bears, #49ers, #Colts, #Jets & #Cardinals.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 12, 2021
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The fact he also delivered such strong vertical and broad jumps at his pro day suggests somebody with lower-body explosion. His senior year was his all-around best, finishing with 42 tackles, an interception, and four pass defenses. So why isn’t he getting more attention? Likely because of the one key number left out from that pro day performance. A 4.70 in the 40-yard dash.
In case people are wondering, that is slow for a defensive back. Really slow. It would’ve been the third-slowest time among safeties at the 2020 scouting combine.
Jordyn Peters: Punt Blocking Connoisseur #wardamn pic.twitter.com/5nZXuyYr4U
— Power of Dixieland (@PwrofDixieland) July 21, 2019
AUBURN vs. ARKANSAS video thread
Touchdown Auburn!
Jordyn Peters blocks the punt & Barton Lester, a walk-on from Air Force, recovers the ball in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/QgYSWdiMl5
— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) October 10, 2020
Chicago Bears likely view Peters as a pure special teams guy
Now slow 40 times aren’t automatically a death sentences for safeties. Tony Jefferson ran a 4.75 coming out of Oklahoma and he ended up becoming a quality starter for the Cardinals and Ravens. D.J. Swearinger and Daniel Sorensen both ran 4.67 and still have found NFL success. Yet the primary comparison the Bears are likely looking at is Miles Killebrew.
A standout at Southern Utah, he was similar in size to Peters with comparable vertical and broad jumps. He also ran a 4.65 in the 40. Detroit drafted him in the 4th round back in 2016. Though he never cracked the starting lineup, Killebrew became one of the best special teams players in the NFL. Since his rookie year, he has 49 tackles on kick and punt coverage. All things considered, that 4th rounder was well-spent.
Peters can be that exact type of player.
The Chicago Bears have five picks on Day 3 in the upcoming draft. Four of them in the 6th round. There is a reasonable possibility that Peters will be available around that point in time. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they decided to scoop him up. Though he may never amount to much as a player on defense, he could be an instant contributor in the third phase.
