Without a first- and third-round pick but acquiring a second from the Khalil Mack trade, the Bears turned out to have a pretty good class in the end.
With said second-round pick, the Bears selected the first tight end off the board in Cole Kmet. After a slow start and low stats his first two seasons, Kmet really broke out in 2022 leading the team in receiving along with seven touchdowns, then signed a four-year extension and had a career year with over 700 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. Kmet is still only 24 years old and is setting himself up to be a Pro Bowler in the near future and will be a reliable pass catcher for whoever will be throwing him the ball in Chicago.
Jaylon Johnson has been a very good starter for his first three seasons, but really put it on display and got the recognition he deserved in 2023 with a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro, and finished as PFF’s No. 1 cornerback in the league. The team is working to get a contract extension done for their franchise corner before free agency hits, and could be getting the franchise tag, if not already.
The other starter from this class is fifth-round wide receiver Darnell Mooney. After a solid first year in which he finished seventh among rookies, he broke out in 2021 with 1,055 yards as the team’s WR1. He continued that role the following year despite missing five games, and was second among the team’s receivers in 2023. While his career numbers don’t suggest he’s been a top receiver in the league, he’s been vital to the Bears passing attack that’s been towards the bottom, and Chicago would be wise to keep him for consistency, but I could easily see a team overpay for him and he’ll have another 1,000-yard season.
Trevis Gipson had a seven-sack season in 2021 as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, but he failed to produce when the team switched to a 4-3 defense as a defensive end. He was released before the 2023 season and signed with the Titans.
Kindle Vildor started out as a special teamer as a rookie, but was named a starting corner for the 2021 and 2022 season with 21 starts in 28 games played those two seasons. He was released before the 2023 season after sliding down the depth chart. He spent time with the Titans and Eagles during the season before joining the Lions late in the year. He started the final two regular season games and all three of their playoff games.
Offensive linemen Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons were both backups for a handful of seasons with the team before practice squad stints with other teams.
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