Chicago Bears: Pros and Cons of CB Duke Shelley
By Ryan Sikes
The Chicago Bears drafted Shelley in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He is one of the more underrated slot cornerbacks, but he is a bit undersized.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Duke Shelley will join a Chicago Bears secondary that is already loaded with talent. He figures to primarily play the slot cornerback position sharing the role with offseason signing, Buster Skrine.
Shelley was a four-year starter at Kansas State but suffered a torn ligament in his toe in his senior season that forced him to miss the final five games of the 2018 season. He accumulated 165 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 31 pass deflections in four seasons.
He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine because of his injury, but put on a show at the Kansas State Pro Day. Shelley ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and had 14 teams approach him for interviews after he was done working out.
"“I can feel it, man,” Shelley said. “It’s just right here. Seeing all the coaches right here has got me hyped and ready to go. It’s a dream come true, something I have been waiting on since I was five years old. Now that it is here I don’t have words for it.” – Kansas City Star"
Now that Shelley is officially a Bear, let’s dive into what fans can expect from Shelley.