The Chicago Bears promised they would stay committed to premium positions in the draft. GM Ryan Poles isn’t a liar. After taking Tyrique Stevenson in the 2nd round on Friday night, the Bears hit the cornerback spot a second time with Terell Smith. Make no mistake. Getting the Minnesota standout late in the 5th round is incredible value. Many evaluators had him going in the 3rd or 4th. He has 6’0, 200 lbs size, 32-inch arms, and 4.41 speed. The guy is built for the NFL. He’s a quality tackler and shows good discipline in coverage.
It took time for Smith to find himself in college, moving in and out of the starting lineup for years. Finally he cemented the job in 2022 and never looked back. He was excellent for the Gophers, racking up 38 tackles, two sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. There were big questions about his ballhawk ability for most of his college career. His improvement last season was encouraging. There is still plenty of vast potential left to explore.
Terell Smith will face stiff competition moving forward.
The Bears’ secondary is suddenly loaded with young talent. They already had Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson in place. Now Stevenson and Smith arrived via the draft. Depth is miles better than where it was last season. Terrell Smith has more than enough ability to start. However, he may have to get creative if he wants to find his way onto the field. Some think he could have a bright future at safety. His style of play does fit the position. In truth, this feels like a pick where the Bears stuck to their board. He was the best available and they took him.
There is nothing wrong with that. Teams can never have too many talented corners. It’s also good insurance in case Johnson leaves as a free agent next year.
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