This NFL scouting combine is considered one of the most important events of the pre-draft process. It is a grand opportunity for college prospects to elevate their draft stock and possibly add millions of dollars to their first contract. However, it can also be a double-edged sword. If a player underperforms expectations, their stocks will take a hit, and they may end up going lower than expected. That is what happened to Kyler Gordon.
Many draft experts felt the Washington cornerback was 1st round material. His fluid athleticism, great instincts, and physical play made him someone coaches love. Then he ran a 4.52 at the combine. While not terrible, teams generally prefer for a corner to reach the sub-4.4 time range to feel comfortable drafting a corner that early. So while many teams were disappointed by the time, one team wasn’t—quite the opposite. Chicago Bears scout Francis Saint Paul said the team practically celebrated when the official time came through.
Bears national scout Francis Saint Paul on CB Kyler Gordon: "When we watched him on tape and he ran that time, the 4.52, we kind of got a little excited. We were like, ‘Uh oh, we may have a chance now.’ He plays way faster than that time."
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) April 30, 2022
That just goes to show every team views the combine differently.
Chicago GM Ryan Poles said from the beginning that he would lean heavily on game tape to make his decisions regarding the draft. To him, the combine is more of a tool to make minor tweaks to his board, not alter it drastically. It is clear the team wasn’t perturbed when Kyler Gordon ran that 40. They know what they saw on film. He was in the hip pocket of wide receivers constantly. There was more than enough speed in his game.
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Now he’s part of a drastic overhaul of the Bears’ secondary. The unit was rough last season. With fellow 2nd rounder Jaquan Brisker, it gets an injection of much-needed youth and athleticism. Veteran corner Tavon Young should also handle the nickel corner duties. With Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson in place, it is a promising group. One that has a chance to become really good if Gordon plays up to this potential.
