The Chicago Bears organization and their fans' biggest focus this offseason is how the team will fix the trenches. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have more than enough cap space to sign big-name free agents that impact both the offensive and defensive lines.
However, Poles and Johnson can't overspend as they have important players on the roster who are up for extension starting this season. One of those players is nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon, who has become one of the better nickels in the league.
On Tuesday, Poles sat down with Marquee Sports Network at the NFL Combine to speak about the upcoming offseason. During the interview, Poles shared his thoughts on a Gordon extension.
“It’s always a priority to re-sign your own … I really believe (Kyler Gordon’s) gonna continue to elevate his game to the next level.”
— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) February 25, 2025
Ryan Poles on a contract extension with Kyler Gordon 👀 pic.twitter.com/hCV6kwCuCC
Ryan Poles Plans to Get a Deal Done with Kyler Gordon
" Yea it's always a priority to re-sign your own. Kyler has done a really great job over the last few years making plays and impacting the game...So any time we have the opportunity to do that { extend him} and it makes sense for both sides we'll be in that mix."Ryan Poles
Poles' comments on his desire to keep Gordon track with what we learned about him in Hard Knocks last year. During the show, it was plainly evident that he values every player, and it hurts him when he has to cut or can't retain a player. In Gordon's case, he was Poles' first draft pick, making their connection even stronger.
That said, Gordon definitely deserves a second contract. Since he was drafted in 2022, the 25-year-old has recorded 207 tackles, nine TFLs, four forced fumbles, 17 pass deflections and five interceptions. Moreover, in each of the past two seasons, Gordon had a coverage grade of 68 or higher, according to PFF.
Gordon's exceptional play was noted by both Johnson and new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen during their introductory press conferences. Allen had this to say about the defender: "Kyler Gordon is an outstanding nickel player. I have a vision for how we can utilize him."
Gordon will be Poles' second opportunity to keep homegrown talent in-house. The other player is Jaylon Johnson, who may not have been a Poles selection but is certainly a stud in his own right.
Ultimately, it would be shocking if the Bears and Gordon didn't work out a deal before the start of the offseason.