Top 10 second round options for the Chicago Bears in 2022 NFL Draft
By Ryan Heckman
Top 2022 NFL Draft options for the Chicago Bears in Round 2
No. 9: CB Kaiir Elam
Another area of need for the Bears — and arguably the weakest position on the team — is at cornerback. The Bears only have one actual starter in Jaylon Johnson, and would do themselves a favor by adding another plus starter. What’s a bit of a coincidence, here, is that NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein actually compares Florida’s Kaiir Elam to Johnson in terms of a pro comparison.
Elam would be a great option for the Bears if he was there at no. 39, and an absolute steal if he fell all the way to 48.
Elam is 6-foot-1 and nearly 6-foot-2, weighing 191 pounds and presenting prototypical size for a cornerback. In his Combine workout, Elam ran a very respectable 4.39 which would give the Bears some much-needed speed in their secondary.
Having the necessary size and strength to work in man, if needed, Elam holds his own. He rarely gets caught biting on double moves and can stick with just about anybody. Another aspect to be excited about: Elam typically wins the 50/50 ball battle. If the Bears paired him with Johnson, they would have a very formidable duo there.