It is hard for fans to get excited about 7th round picks when it comes to the NFL draft. It’s the last round and almost always produces backups, special teamers, or eventual washouts. Yet every once in a while, the round can produce surprisingly good players. The Chicago Bears found that out with Charles Leno Jr. back in 2014. So it’s important to take even those picks seriously. Could it be happening again with Khyiris Tonga?
Bears fans didn’t register much when the team selected the BYU defensive tackle. Nose tackles in general aren’t the flashiest players and the fact he was going to turn 25-years old in July probably didn’t help. Yet the team and indeed some experts felt they got somebody who was considerably better than his draft status indicated.
Wait. The Bears got Khyiris Tonga in the seventh round? Dude was my DT5. pic.twitter.com/CMSB46PdpH
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) May 1, 2021
What the Bears liked about him was he isn’t a typical nose tackle.
Most at that position are viewed purely as run-stoppers. A giant body that can eat up blocks and make it difficult to run between the guards and center. While Tonga has shown he can do that, he also flashes surprising interior rush ability. He’s much quicker than a guy who is 325 lbs should be. Saturday showcased his entire skillset. Particularly back-to-back plays in the 4th quarter.
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The first is a run play on 2nd and 10. Buffalo attempts to rush off the right guard. Tonga does a good job of standing up the center and flowing to his left, clogging up the lane. The running back has nowhere to go as other Bears defenders quickly fly to him, resulting in no gain.
On the next play, Davis Webb will attempt a pass. The Bears run a stunt with Tonga pushing to the outside while the defensive end loops back in. He’s initially double-teamed but keeps his legs moving. As Webb scrambles to his right, Tonga maintains pursuit and gets in Webb’s face, resulting in a rushed throw that Thomas Graham Jr. nearly picks off.
This isn’t a one-off event for Khyiris Tonga either
He did the same things the week before against Miami too. This offers a further indication that the Bears may have something. While Tonga isn’t going to be a starter anytime soon with Eddie Goldman on the team, it reflects just how deep the Bears are on the defensive line. Nose tackle was a problem for them last year as Goldman opted out due to COVID-19. Clearly, GM Ryan Pace and the coaches had no plans for that to happen again.
It is encouraging to see the rookie play this well already. He has plenty of work to do but it’s obvious he has potential worth exploring. Defensive line coach Chris Rumph has already done some nice work with him. It will come down to how much better Khyiris Tonga can get from a conditioning and fundamental perspective.
The NFL is a big step up in competition.
He spent most of his time at BYU eating up centers that were smaller than him. That isn’t going to be the case much at this level. He has to learn how to handle bigger guys who are strong too. That is where an NFL training regimen and a veteran like Rumph can help the most.