Jaquan Brisker named Bears' best value pick of 2022 NFL Draft

Now that a week has gone by, the narrative is shifting. It's shifted so much that Brisker is now viewed as one of this year's biggest steals.

Brisker entered draft weekend as a player who could hear his name called toward the end of the first round. He slid into Day 2, where the Bears landed him at No. 48 overall. He was named the Bears' best value pick by Bleacher Report.

"The 23-year-old can cover wideouts with ease thanks to his elite athleticism, strong awareness and instincts, great ball-tracking ability and quick closing burst.

"Brisker was projected as a Day 1 pick due to these traits, but ended up falling into Day 2, a spot where the Bears capitalized. They can now pencil him in as a starter for the foreseeable future, an immense value for a reasonably low cost."

Jaquan Brisker will make an instant impact in 2022

Poles made it clear shortly after the draft concluded why Brisker was an easy choice despite national media cries for the Bears to select a wide receiver in the second round.

“It comes down to the board and where guys are valued," The reactions that immediately follow the \x3Ca href=\"http://bearstalk.com/tag/nfl-draft\">NFL Draft\x3C/a> are incredible. Players who profile as very good prospects are often criticized as bad picks if they don't fit a national narrative or expectation. For the Chicago Bears' 2022 NFL Draft, the selection of Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker was initially viewed as a questionable decision by General Manager Ryan Poles.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now that a week has gone by, the narrative is shifting. It's shifted so much that Brisker is now viewed as one of this year's biggest steals.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Brisker entered draft weekend as a player who could hear his name called toward the end of the first round. He slid into Day 2, where the Bears landed him at No. 48 overall. He was named the Bears' best value pick by \x3Ca href=\"https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955973-2022-nfl-draft-every-teams-best-value-selection\">Bleacher Report\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"The 23-year-old can cover wideouts with ease thanks to his elite athleticism, strong awareness and instincts, great ball-tracking ability and quick closing burst.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"Brisker was projected as a Day 1 pick due to these traits, but ended up falling into Day 2, a spot where the Bears capitalized. They can now pencil him in as a starter for the foreseeable future, an immense value for a reasonably low cost.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\x3Cimg src=\"img/legacy/Jaquan-Brisker-1024x683-original.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Jaquan Brisker\" class=\"wp-image-2478\">\x3C/img>\x3C/figure>\x3Ch2 id=\"h-jaquan-brisker-will-make-an-instant-impact-in-2022\">Jaquan Brisker will make an instant impact in 2022\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Poles made it clear shortly after the draft concluded why \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/heres-why-bears-gm-ryan-poles-went-with-defense-over-a-wide-receiver-in-the-2022-nfl-draft/\">Brisker was an easy choice \x3C/a>despite national media cries for the Bears to select a wide receiver in the second round.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“It comes down to the board and where guys are valued,\" \x3Ca href='https://bearstalk.com/heres-why-bears-gm-ryan-poles-went-with-defense-over-a-wide-receiver-in-the-2022-nfl-draft/\">he said\x3C/a>. \"And … where we sat, there were two good starting-level defensive players, and I would have made a huge mistake for this organization to say, ‘Let’s leave them there, let someone else take them,’ and we’re going to go to offense where they’re not on the same level. And then you’re kicking yourself a year or two later when that guy’s an All-Pro.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Brisker is expected to start opposite Eddie Jackson at safety and will bring a physical element to the Bears\" run defense as well as an instinctual playmaker against the pass. So, yeah, he was exceptional value in the second round.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“I love being physical,” \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/jaquan-brisker-i-love-being-physical/\">Brisker said this week\x3C/a>. “But at the same time, I can show my versatility in the back end. I can attack the ball, I can cover, and then obviously in the box, I love to hit.\"\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Chicago Bears second-round pick , Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker, was named the Bears' best value pick in the 2022 NFL Draft",featured_image_url:"/api/public/media/2025/07/Jaquan-Brisker-1-original.jpg",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[14]=["2022 Season"],tags:$R[15]=["2022-nfl-draft","2022-nfl-season","2022-season","chicago-bears","jaquan-brisker","news","nfl-draft"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1,linkedContent:"\x3Cp>The reactions that immediately follow the \x3Ca href=\"http://bearstalk.com/tag/nfl-draft\">NFL Draft\x3C/a> are incredible. Players who profile as very good prospects are often criticized as bad picks if they don't fit a national narrative or expectation. For the Chicago Bears' 2022 NFL Draft, the selection of Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker was initially viewed as a questionable decision by General Manager Ryan Poles.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now that a week has gone by, the narrative is shifting. It's shifted so much that Brisker is now viewed as one of this year's biggest steals.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Brisker entered draft weekend as a player who could hear his name called toward the end of the first round. He slid into Day 2, where the Bears landed him at No. 48 overall. He was named the Bears' best value pick by \x3Ca href=\"https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955973-2022-nfl-draft-every-teams-best-value-selection\">Bleacher Report\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"The 23-year-old can cover wideouts with ease thanks to his elite athleticism, strong awareness and instincts, great ball-tracking ability and quick closing burst.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"Brisker was projected as a Day 1 pick due to these traits, but ended up falling into Day 2, a spot where the Bears capitalized. They can now pencil him in as a starter for the foreseeable future, an immense value for a reasonably low cost.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\x3Cimg src=\"img/legacy/Jaquan-Brisker-1024x683-original.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Jaquan Brisker\" class=\"wp-image-2478\">\x3C/img>\x3C/figure>\x3Ch2 id=\"h-jaquan-brisker-will-make-an-instant-impact-in-2022\">Jaquan Brisker will make an instant impact in 2022\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Poles made it clear shortly after the draft concluded why \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/heres-why-bears-gm-ryan-poles-went-with-defense-over-a-wide-receiver-in-the-2022-nfl-draft/\">Brisker was an easy choice \x3C/a>despite national media cries for the Bears to select a wide receiver in the second round.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“It comes down to the board and where guys are valued,\" \x3Ca href='https://bearstalk.com/heres-why-bears-gm-ryan-poles-went-with-defense-over-a-wide-receiver-in-the-2022-nfl-draft/\">he said\x3C/a>. \"And … where we sat, there were two good starting-level defensive players, and I would have made a huge mistake for this organization to say, ‘Let’s leave them there, let someone else take them,’ and we’re going to go to offense where they’re not on the same level. And then you’re kicking yourself a year or two later when that guy’s an All-Pro.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Brisker is expected to start opposite Eddie Jackson at safety and will bring a physical element to the Bears\" run defense as well as an instinctual playmaker against the pass. So, yeah, he was exceptional value in the second round.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“I love being physical,” \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/jaquan-brisker-i-love-being-physical/\">Brisker said this week\x3C/a>. “But at the same time, I can show my versatility in the back end. I can attack the ball, I can cover, and then obviously in the box, I love to hit.\"\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"d951c40e-3649-4fb8-9223-891caf71d628",wp_post_id:100000000260,title:"Bears make big jump in ESPN's Week 7 NFL power rankings",slug:"chicago-bears-espn-week-7-nfl-power-rankings",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/20",published_at:"2026-10-20T15:47:21.465+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-20T15:47:21.465+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are back in the top 10 of ESPN's NFL power rankings, and the return of Caleb Williams has plenty to do with it.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Following Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50218886/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-teams-biggest-issue-offense\">the Bears climbed four spots to No. 9 in ESPN's Week 7 rankings, up from No. 13 last week.\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's a big jump for a Chicago team that has had its share of ups and downs in the first six weeks of the season, including a three-game stretch without the Iceman.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But with Williams back under center and the Bears at 4-2, national expectations are rising again.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>ESPN identifies Chicago's biggest offensive problem\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>This week's ESPN rankings added a wrinkle: Each team's NFL Nation reporter identified its biggest offensive concern.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For the Bears, ESPN's Courtney Cronin pointed to penalties.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"Quarterback Caleb Williams being back under center alleviates a lot of the issues the Bears struggled with in his absence, such as red zone execution, third-down efficiency and their downfield passing attack. One area that can stand to be cleaned up more is offensive penalties, which accounted for seven of the Bears' infractions Sunday. Those offensive penalties helped generate Chicago's most penalty yardage in a game since 2016 (133). The Bears are tied for the third-most offensive holding penalties (10). That's an area they'll want to fix so it doesn't derail drives.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago committed 12 penalties in total against Atlanta, including seven on offense. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's a very real concern, especially for an offense that was hitting on all cylinders with Williams back in the lineup.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons, helping Chicago build a 31-7 lead before Atlanta mounted a fourth-quarter comeback.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears' offense has proven that it can run opposing teams out of a stadium. Imagine how much more productive it could be if it weren't consistently putting itself behind the chains with avoidable penalties.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Are the Bears becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders?\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>ESPN's No. 9 ranking feels like a reasonable slotting for where Chicago stands entering Week 7.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have won four of their first six games, including two victories during Williams' absence. Sunday's performance reminded us what Johnson's offense looks like with its franchise quarterback healthy.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Still, the Bears have more to prove before they can be crowned one of the NFL's best teams.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The defense nearly allowed Atlanta to erase a 24-point deficit, while offensive penalties remain a recurring problem. Eventually, those issues will cost them games.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears host the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football in a matchup between two 4-2 teams led by two of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL draft.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Finally, a Thursday night game worth watching.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>A victory would push the Bears to 5-2 and provide another reason for national analysts to take Chicago seriously. For now, ESPN ranks the Bears among the NFL's 10 best teams, and that's a remarkable place to be after six games, especially given everything Chicago has already navigated this season.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Chicago Bears climbed four spots to No. 9 in ESPN's Week 7 NFL power rankings, but a troubling offensive issue could threaten their momentum.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792510986034-n4gatn.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjUxMDk4NjAzNC1uNGdhdG4ud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI1MTA5ODcsImV4cCI6MjEwNzg3MDk4N30.XLLCFiph-CkSC5USMADlUEcVTjPWEJ6guhd8emYHhPA",photo_credit:"(Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-20T15:34:26.332308+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[18]=["News"],tags:$R[19]=["ben johnson","caleb williams","chicago bears","nfl power rankings","week 7"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears surge in ESPN's Week 7 NFL power rankings",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears climbed four spots to No. 9 in ESPN's Week 7 NFL power rankings, but a troubling offensive issue could threaten their momentum.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[20]={id:"4b21f6b4-0533-4d9f-b0f6-111c6a195dd7",wp_post_id:100000000259,title:"5 Bears players who could swing Thursday night's showdown with the Patriots",slug:"five-bears-players-to-watch-patriots-week-7",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/20",published_at:"2026-10-20T14:25:44.679+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-20T14:25:44.679+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears have plenty of star power heading into Thursday night's showdown with the New England Patriots. Caleb Williams is coming off an impressive first game back from injury, Luther Burden has established himself as an alpha in the receiver room, and Kyler Gordon just delivered one of the most disruptive defensive performances we've seen from a Bears player in years.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those are the obvious names to watch Thursday night against the New England Patriots.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But Chicago's Week 7 matchup could hinge on a handful of players who won't necessarily dominate the pregame conversation.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Five Bears players could decide Thursday night's matchup with the Patriots, including Caleb Williams, Kyler Gordon and an unexpected offensive line X-factor.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792506104747-tzwy9c.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjUwNjEwNDc0Ny10end5OWMud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI1MDYxMDUsImV4cCI6MjEwNzg2NjEwNX0.bGsU-qY4O_iel0wdqDIOnn1ou0wtyW-Wb6GKtF-W3Wc",photo_credit:" (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-20T13:47:44.59028+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=[],meta_title:"5 Chicago Bears players to watch vs. Patriots in Week 7",meta_description:"Five Bears players could decide Thursday night's matchup with the Patriots, including Caleb Williams, Kyler Gordon, and an unexpected offensive line X-factor.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:6,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"premium",is_featured:!0},$R[23]={id:"1197d231-e468-4a32-ba05-459f0e2c52ca",wp_post_id:100000000258,title:"Bears' winners and losers from Week 6 win over Falcons: Caleb Williams delivers, defense raises concerns",slug:"bears-winners-losers-falcons-week-6",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/19",published_at:"2026-10-19T19:57:36.639+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-19T19:57:36.638+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears improved to 4-2 with Sunday's 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but the final score doesn't capture how strange the afternoon got.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For three quarters, Chicago looked like a team ready to announce itself as the NFC's top contender. Caleb Williams was sharp in his return from a hamstring injury, the offense moved the ball efficiently, and the Bears built a commanding 31-7 lead.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the fourth quarter painted a picture of a team that wasn't quite there yet.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Atlanta scored 16 unanswered points, turning what should have been a comfortable victory into an unnecessarily stressful finish.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There was plenty to like about the Bears' performance, but there were also some legitimate concerns that shouldn't be ignored.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here are Chicago's biggest winners and losers from Week 6.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Winners\x3C/h2>\x3Ch3>Caleb Williams\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Williams couldn't have asked for a much better return.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>After missing three games with a hamstring injury, Chicago's franchise quarterback completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He also completed his first 12 attempts, immediately settling into a rhythm the Bears' offense had lacked during his absence.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>What stood out most was how comfortable Williams looked operating Ben Johnson's offense despite the layoff. He distributed the football to all of his skill players, avoided turnover-worthy throws, and played like the defense was moving in slow motion.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears survived without Williams. Sunday reminded everyone how much more dangerous they are with him.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792429278464-p4pn48.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQyOTI3ODQ2NC1wNHBuNDgud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0MjkyNzcsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc4OTI3N30.0QnY91FHtmHOEf7oy3d8ZiJoERQ0a_554TkXeMjWtQM\" alt=\"Kyler Gordon Bears Falcons grades\">\x3Ch3>Kyler Gordon\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>If Williams was Chicago's offensive MVP, Gordon was the defense's most valuable dude. In fact, he was arguably the best player on the field on Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Making his season debut, Gordon recorded three sacks, including a critical fourth-quarter strip-sack of Michael Penix Jr. that helped stop Atlanta's comeback attempt.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Gordon played just 17 defensive snaps, but earned an elite 95.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Talk about making the most of limited opportunities.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyinbgo out and Chicago's defensive front lacking a a game-changing edge rusher, Gordon provided exactly the disruptive playmaking the Bears desperately needed.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Luther Burden III\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Burden caught all eight of his targets for 95 yards against Atlanta, earning the Bears' highest offensive PFF grade at 79.2.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His explosiveness and playmaking ability are beginning to separate him from the other Bears' pass catchers, and there's little doubt now, six games into the 2026 season, that he is Chicago's WR1.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792439793453-iuz3c2.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQzOTc5MzQ1My1pdXozYzIud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0Mzk3OTIsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc5OTc5Mn0.jnUHWXuweZ07AyaE2uCTqTsqYTAHGTKc1psOKolHaWQ\" alt=\"Luther Burden Chicago Bears Atlanta Falcons\">\x3Cp>Burden's growth has been fun to watch, especially as he fights for targets with other high-end options like Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and even Kalif Raymont.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have no shortage of skill talent this year, and Burden is the best of the bunch.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Chicago's special teams\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Special teams don't always get much attention when a team scores 31 points, but Chicago's unit deserves credit for helping create that offensive production.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears recovered two fumbles by Falcons returner Zachariah Branch, with both takeaways leading to points.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Josh Blackwell recovered a muffed punt that helped set up a D'Andre Swift touchdown, while Nick McCloud recovered a kickoff-return fumble forced by Zavier Scott that eventually led to a Cairo Santos field goal.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Losers\x3C/h2>\x3Ch3>Ben Johnson's fourth-quarter game management\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Johnson deserves plenty of credit for Chicago's offensive success, but his late-game decisions deserve scrutiny.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With the Bears leading 31-7, Johnson began removing defensive starters as the team looked ahead to Thursday night's matchup against New England. It's understandable to protect players on a short week, particularly with Chicago already dealing with defensive injuries. But the Bears shouldn't have gotten so comfortable with so much time left.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Atlanta scored twice, Chicago committed a costly turnover, and suddenly the Falcons had a realistic opportunity to force overtime.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson's decision didn't cost the Bears the win, but it made the final quarter much more uncomfortable than it needed to be.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's a lesson worth remembering.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Darnell Wright\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Wright earned a 51.6 overall PFF grade, the worst on the Bears' offense in Week 6.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792439826752-u2vkdv.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQzOTgyNjc1Mi11MnZrZHYud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0Mzk4MjUsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc5OTgyNX0.Bq0bCeb_4eDomX9N6RdecW-OvoqdSdgTeK_qEZ775-Q\" alt=\"Darnell Wright Bears Falcons\">\x3Cp>His \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://premium.pff.com/nfl/games/2026/6/chicago-bears/offense\">35.3 pass-blocking grade\x3C/a> was particularly shocking. Wright has traditionally been Chicago's most reliable lineman. Perhaps he's hiding an injury. There's no other reasonable explanation.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wright is expected to be a cornerstone of Chicago's offensive line, and the Bears need more consistent play from him as the schedule heats up.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Chicago's fourth-quarter defense\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>The Bears held Atlanta to seven points through three quarters, but football games are four quarters, not three.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Penix connected twice with Kyle Pitts Sr. for fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Falcons converted both two-point attempts. A 24-point advantage shrank to eight, forcing Chicago's defense to make another critical play to secure the victory.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Yes, the Bears were missing several starters on defense. But letting an opponent climb back into a game that seemed over isn't acceptable.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears got away with it Sunday. No harm, no foul... for now.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>The Bears' discipline\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Chicago committed 12 penalties for 133 yards against Atlanta. That's a staggering number, especially for a Ben Johnson team.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Penalties usually derail drives, extend opposing possessions, and erase otherwise quality execution. The Bears were talented enough to overcome those mistakes against the Falcons, but discipline remains an area Johnson must address.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>At 4-2, Chicago is in a good spot. The next step is learning how to win without making things so difficult.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>The bottom line\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Sunday was a good day for the Bears. Williams returned and looked awesome. Gordon was a superhero in his season debut. Chicago found another way to win on the road.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the fourth-quarter collapse, costly penalties, and uneven offensive line play should remind everyone that the Bears are still an unfinished product. That's a scary thought, isn't it?\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have enough talent to compete with any team in the NFL. Now they need to show the consistency and discipline required to be \x3Cem>the best\x3C/em> team in the league.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With the Patriots coming to Soldier Field on Thursday night, they won't have long to figure it out.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Caleb Williams and Kyler Gordon delivered in the Bears' win over Atlanta, but several problems emerged. Here are Chicago's biggest winners and losers.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792439589207-852ybb.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQzOTU4OTIwNy04NTJ5YmIud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0Mzk1ODgsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc5OTU4OH0.vBW5RqtzF0X-7SV-BuG9V409hMlC1cDRMM9oTv20hzs",photo_credit:" (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-19T19:36:38.711976+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=["News"],tags:$R[25]=[],meta_title:"Bears' winners and losers from Week 6 win over Falcons",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears improved to 4-2 with Sunday's 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but the final score doesn't capture how strange the afternoon got. For…",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:4,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[26]={id:"d28d02f3-451b-40c2-a051-bfe6dbf0a408",wp_post_id:100000000257,title:"PFF grades reveal surprising Bears standouts in win over Falcons",slug:"bears-top-pff-grades-falcons-week-6",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/19",published_at:"2026-10-19T17:07:34.214+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-19T17:07:34.214+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears improved to 4-2 with Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, and while Caleb Williams' return dominated the headlines, \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pff.com/\">Pro Football Focus' player grades\x3C/a> revealed several other standout performances.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wide receiver Luther Burden III led Chicago's offense, while Kyler Gordon delivered the highest defensive grade in his first game back from injury.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For this week's rankings, we're using a minimum of 20 offensive or defensive snaps to exclude players whose grades are based on very limited playing time. That means Gordon, who played 17 defensive snaps, won't rank in the top five. But don't worry; we'll get to him.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here's how Chicago's highest-graded players stacked up.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears' five highest-graded offensive players\x3C/h2>\x3Ctable class=\"bt-table\" style=\"min-width: 100px;\">\x3Ccolgroup>\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3C/colgroup>\x3Ctbody>\x3Ctr>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Rank\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Player\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>PFF grade\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Snaps\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>1\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Luther Burden III, WR\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>79.2\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>30\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>2\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Garrett Bradbury, C\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>73.4\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>70\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>3\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Jonah Jackson, G\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>72.5\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>50\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>4\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>D'Andre Swift, RB\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>68.9\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>45\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>5\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Rome Odunze, WR\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>67.5\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>74\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3C/tbody>\x3C/table>\x3Cp>Burden's continues to be one of the most productive players in Chicago's offense. He caught all eight of his targets for 95 yards against Atlanta, earning a team-high 79.2 offensive grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Bradbury and Jackson also earned top-five spots, though Jackson was forced out after 50 snaps with a hip injury. We'll be monitoring it over the next few days.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Swift finished fourth despite averaging fewer than three yards per carry, highlighting how PFF's grading is more layered than traditional box score stats. Swift didn't have his most efficient day, but he delivered when the Bears needed it most.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Odunze rounded out the top five with a 67.5 grade while playing 74 offensive snaps. He was targeted four times and caught three passes for 39 yards. The former ninth overall pick still hasn't had his signature moment in the NFL, and maybe it'll never come. But he's playing like a quality No. 2 wideout for Ben Johnson, and that carries weight.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>If you're wondering where Caleb Williams ranks in the top five, you're not alone.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Despite completing 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, Chicago's quarterback earned a 65.0 overall grade, placing him outside the top five. I'm not sure what PFF's offices look like after Bears games, but there seems to be a collective mission to give Williams no credit, even when he has a universally praised, elite quarterbacking performance.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears' five highest-graded defensive players\x3C/h2>\x3Ctable class=\"bt-table\" style=\"min-width: 100px;\">\x3Ccolgroup>\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\x3C/colgroup>\x3Ctbody>\x3Ctr>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Rank\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Player\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>PFF grade\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3Cth colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Snaps\x3C/p>\x3C/th>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>1\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Devin Bush, LB\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>82.7\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>44\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>2\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Noah Sewell, LB\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>82.2\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>25\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>3\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>Daniel Hardy, EDGE\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>72.1\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>34\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>4\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>James Lynch, DL\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>68.0\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>37\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3Ctr>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>5\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>D'Marco Jackson, LB\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>61.9\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\x3Cp>46\x3C/p>\x3C/td>\x3C/tr>\x3C/tbody>\x3C/table>\x3Cp>Linebackers dominated Chicago's defensive rankings, with Bush and Sewell earning the two highest qualifying grades.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Bush led the group with an 82.7 overall grade, including an impressive 84.8 mark against the run. Sewell wasn't far behind at 82.2, providing another strong and much-needed performance for a Bears defense dealing with injuries at linebacker.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Hardy was Chicago's highest-graded qualifying defensive lineman with a 72.1, followed by Lynch at 68.0.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>D'Marco Jackson completed the top five with a 61.9 grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792418351988-cwwhhk.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQxODM1MTk4OC1jd3doaGsud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0MTgzNTAsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc3ODM1MH0.-nbC4CbN_Ssg0_MZ5lU-XctbdOzRSfJ-Kt-a2n20ssM\" alt=\"Kyler Gordon Bears Falcons\">\x3Ch2>Kyler Gordon deserves special recognition\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Although Gordon didn't meet our 20-snap minimum, his performance was easily the best of any Bears player on either side of the ball.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The veteran defensive back earned a remarkable 95.3 overall PFF grade on just 17 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Gordon recorded three sacks, including a crucial fourth-quarter strip-sack of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. that helped preserve Chicago's victory.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Dennis Allen could've only dreamed of a 94.7 pass-rush grade from one of his edge rushers. Instead, Gordon delivered the heat.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Josh Blackwell also missed the snap threshold, but he deserves credit for his 86.5 defensive grade on nine snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>What the PFF grades tell us about the Bears\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Sunday's grades reinforce two developments for Chicago.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>First, Burden is clearly the WR1 in Ben Johnson's offense. He's the engine that allows the passing game to hit full speed, and it's nice to see he's living up to his preseason hype. Second, several defensive reserves and rotational players made meaningful contributions against the Falcons, something the Bears will need to continue as injuries continue to test their depth.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the biggest storyline was Gordon, whose return provided the kind of spark the Bears desperately needed. He proved why Chicago paid him like one of the NFL's best nickel corners, and as long as he stays healthy, he should have little trouble emerging as the most impactful player on defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>No, the Bears weren't perfect against Atlanta, especially during a fourth quarter that nearly erased their commanding lead. But at 4-2, they're getting contributions from players across the roster as they prepare for Thursday night's matchup with the New England Patriots.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"See the Chicago Bears' five highest PFF grades on offense and defense against the Falcons, plus Kyler Gordon's remarkable performance in his return.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792429278464-p4pn48.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQyOTI3ODQ2NC1wNHBuNDgud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0MjkyNzcsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc4OTI3N30.0QnY91FHtmHOEf7oy3d8ZiJoERQ0a_554TkXeMjWtQM",photo_credit:"(Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-19T16:40:07.756786+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[27]=["News"],tags:$R[28]=[],meta_title:"PFF grades reveal Bears' standouts in win over Falcons",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears improved to 4-2 with Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, and while Caleb Williams' return dominated the headlines, Pro…",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:4,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[29]={id:"d8c1e1f6-55b8-40f5-8afd-e81364120fba",wp_post_id:100000000256,title:"Perez's 7: Caleb Williams is back, Kyler Gordon changes everything, and the Bears have a problem to fix",slug:"perezs-7-bears-falcons-week-6-takeaways",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/10/19",published_at:"2026-10-19T14:03:29.43+00:00",updated_at:"2026-10-19T14:03:29.43+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears are 4-2, Caleb Williams is back, and for about three quarters Sunday afternoon, Ben Johnson's team looked every bit like a legitimate NFC contender.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Then the fourth quarter happened.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons was a fascinating game. It was simultaneously one of the Bears' most promising performances of the season and a reminder that this team still has some growing up to do.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Seven takeaways from the Bears' 31-23 win over Atlanta, including Caleb Williams' return, Kyler Gordon's breakout and a concerning fourth quarter.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1792418498542-l3dk5j.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiI0ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc5MjQxODQ5ODU0Mi1sM2RrNWoud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3OTI0MTg0OTcsImV4cCI6MjEwNzc3ODQ5N30.0Od1qndvBwC3IAOoAmLcHH4CzUqd5P2ExzAh9tjNCyo",photo_credit:"(Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-10-19T13:17:52.868288+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[30]=["News"],tags:$R[31]=[],meta_title:"Perez's 7: Bears QB Caleb Williams is back with a vengeance",meta_description:"Seven takeaways from the Bears' 31-23 win over Atlanta, including Caleb Williams' return, Kyler Gordon's breakout and a concerning fourth quarter.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:7,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"premium",is_featured:!1}],truncated:!1},ssr:!0}]})($R["tsr"])