Chicago Bears Draft Pick Is Projected To Make 2022 All-Rookie Team
If the Chicago Bears are going to be even an average football team in 2022, they will need a decent contribution from their incoming draft class. That might be asking a lot, considering they had no 1st round pick this year. Be that as it may, it hasn’t stopped some people from having optimism about a few key names in the 11-man class. Enough to where they will stand out far more than anybody expects.
The All-Rookie team can often be an excellent barometer for future stars in the NFL. Justin Herbert, Jonathan Taylor, and Justin Jefferson were all members in 2020. Now they can argue for being one of the two or three best players at their respective positions in the league. Over the past five years, the Bears have only had one player crack the All-Rookie team. That was Roquan Smith in 2018. He’s now their best defensive player and an All-Pro in all but name.
Could somebody finally break through this season?
Chad Reuter of NFL.com thinks so. The draft expert released projections for the 11 defensive rookies that will make the team in 2022. There were some obvious choices, like Aidan Hutchinson at defensive end and Sauce Gardner at cornerback. Both of them are top 10 picks. Where it gets exciting is who Reuter placed on the back end of the unit. He thinks Bears 2nd round pick Jaquan Brisker will join the fun.
“Chicago added Brisker to complement Eddie Jackson at safety, with Brisker primarily thriving in the box while allowing Jackson to excel as a center fielder and over the slot. The former Penn State Nittany Lion can play deep, as well, and cover tight ends adeptly, which should make him a reliable starter as a rookie.”
Based on the early buzz from Halas Hall, this prediction is anything but crazy. Brisker seems to make plays in every single practice. Head coach Matt Eberflus gushed about him during press conferences, and teammates are beyond impressed. It is no longer a question of if he will start come September. People are now wondering if he might already be the best Bears’ safety.
Chicago Bears may have a star in Brisker.
Yes, that sounds incredibly premature. Yet the warning signs are already starting to pop up. He’s making lots of plays in practice. Coaches are fawning over him. His college tape is outstanding, and he might be one of the best athletes at his position to come out in years. Not only does he have the sub-4.5 speed to cover lots of ground, but he also has a unique mixture of physicality and ball skills that enable him to line up anywhere on the field. Offenses always have to know where he is before the snap.
Comparing him with former Chicago Bears All-Pro Mike Brown might seem like a stretch. Still, the similarities are hard to ignore. His two-way ability made him a nightmare on the back end. The scary part is Brisker is slightly bigger, and a better athlete than Brown was. The defense is in great hands if he has the same instincts (which he seems to) and leadership qualities.
This doesn’t even account for Kyler Gordon.
The Bears’ first pick of the 2022 draft should also be an immediate starter. He’s being overlooked by other prospects selected ahead of him. It will be a fun season if those two youngsters play up to some of their potential this year.