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Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles checked off an important task on his offseason to-do list on Sunday evening. The Bears signed cornerback Kyler Gordon to a three-year extension worth up to $40 million with $31.25 million guaranteed. The deal makes Gordon the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the league, eclipsing the extension Houston Texans defensive back Jalen Pitre signed a few days earlier.
Gordon, a second-round selection out of Washington in the 2022 NFL Draft, was Poles' first draft pick as Bears general manager. After moving around the secondary during his rookie season, Gordon settled in as the team's nickel cornerback, where he showed an innate ability to make plays at and near the line of scrimmage. Gordon earned the nickname "Spider-Man" for his ability to fly in and out of nowhere to make a key tackle or pass breakup.
Through three seasons, Gordon has totaled five interceptions, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and nine tackles for loss while becoming one of the better nickel corners in the league. Gordon was set to enter free agency next offseason but will now remain as one of Chicago's key cornerstones as they enter a new era with head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Here is our initial grade of Gordon's extension:
When Johnson and Allen were introduced at their respective press conferences, they both brought Gordon's name up. Johnson called him a "phenomenal nickel," while Allen called him "outstanding." It seemed clear that he was a player the new staff was excited about, and given Poles' recent comments about wanting to get a deal done, this was a matter of when, not if. Thankfully, the Bears got it done before more slot corners raised the price. Still, guaranteeing over $31 million for a nickel cornerback is a hefty investment. Is Gordon worth it?
For where the market is going, I believe this is a good deal for Gordon. It's not a steal, though. At least not yet. After a disastrous start to his rookie season where Gordon couldn't cover a receiver nor wrap up a ball carrier, he's steadily become a very reliable defender. Gordon has stretches where he looks like one of the best nickel corners in the game. You can point to a game or two every year that he seems to take over, like against the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in 2023 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2024.
Some of the issues Gordon exuded early in his career still pop up from time to time, and Gordon tends to miss a few games a season due to injury, but nickel corner is an extremely tough position to play in the NFL. It has evolved so much over the last few decades, going from a luxury to a necessity with the passing evolution and star-studded slot receivers throughout the league. The Bears haven't had a dynamic nickel cornerback for more than a couple of seasons over the last 10 to 15 years. Gordon gets to keep honing his craft while providing the Bears with stability at the position for the first time in years.
The Bears are betting on Gordon to become a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He's only 25 years old, and the new coaching staff has big plans for him. Over the last few seasons, I have dubbed Gordon the defense's "X factor" for how he can attack opposing offenses, and there's a good chance we have yet to see his best. Though he'll be in a new system, Gordon gets to stay in the position he knows best while maintaining the chemistry he built with guys like Jaylon Johnson, Tremaine Edmunds, and TJ Edwards.
Depending on how the contract is structured, Gordon's average annual cap hit could be around $13 million. That's slightly more than Cole Kmet and less than Tremaine Edmunds' 2025 cap hits. This contract earns a B+ for now but could look like an A at the end of the season if Gordon keeps elevating his game and more nickel corners sign long-term extensions. Tennessee Titans nickel cornerback Roger McCreary is due up and will likely surpass Gordon's contract, just like he did with Pitre.
The Bears couldn't let Gordon get away and made the right move to extend him. It's even better knowing Poles was able to hit on his first draft pick as general manager, something his predecessors like Ryan Pace, Phil Emery, Jerry Angelo, and Mark Hatley couldn't accomplish.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Grading the Bears' extension of CB Kyler Gordon
Continue reading...
Gordon, a second-round selection out of Washington in the 2022 NFL Draft, was Poles' first draft pick as Bears general manager. After moving around the secondary during his rookie season, Gordon settled in as the team's nickel cornerback, where he showed an innate ability to make plays at and near the line of scrimmage. Gordon earned the nickname "Spider-Man" for his ability to fly in and out of nowhere to make a key tackle or pass breakup.
Through three seasons, Gordon has totaled five interceptions, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and nine tackles for loss while becoming one of the better nickel corners in the league. Gordon was set to enter free agency next offseason but will now remain as one of Chicago's key cornerstones as they enter a new era with head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Here is our initial grade of Gordon's extension:
Contract details
- Three-year deal worth $40 million ($31.25 million guaranteed)
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Initial grade: B+
When Johnson and Allen were introduced at their respective press conferences, they both brought Gordon's name up. Johnson called him a "phenomenal nickel," while Allen called him "outstanding." It seemed clear that he was a player the new staff was excited about, and given Poles' recent comments about wanting to get a deal done, this was a matter of when, not if. Thankfully, the Bears got it done before more slot corners raised the price. Still, guaranteeing over $31 million for a nickel cornerback is a hefty investment. Is Gordon worth it?
For where the market is going, I believe this is a good deal for Gordon. It's not a steal, though. At least not yet. After a disastrous start to his rookie season where Gordon couldn't cover a receiver nor wrap up a ball carrier, he's steadily become a very reliable defender. Gordon has stretches where he looks like one of the best nickel corners in the game. You can point to a game or two every year that he seems to take over, like against the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in 2023 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2024.
Some of the issues Gordon exuded early in his career still pop up from time to time, and Gordon tends to miss a few games a season due to injury, but nickel corner is an extremely tough position to play in the NFL. It has evolved so much over the last few decades, going from a luxury to a necessity with the passing evolution and star-studded slot receivers throughout the league. The Bears haven't had a dynamic nickel cornerback for more than a couple of seasons over the last 10 to 15 years. Gordon gets to keep honing his craft while providing the Bears with stability at the position for the first time in years.
The Bears are betting on Gordon to become a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He's only 25 years old, and the new coaching staff has big plans for him. Over the last few seasons, I have dubbed Gordon the defense's "X factor" for how he can attack opposing offenses, and there's a good chance we have yet to see his best. Though he'll be in a new system, Gordon gets to stay in the position he knows best while maintaining the chemistry he built with guys like Jaylon Johnson, Tremaine Edmunds, and TJ Edwards.
Depending on how the contract is structured, Gordon's average annual cap hit could be around $13 million. That's slightly more than Cole Kmet and less than Tremaine Edmunds' 2025 cap hits. This contract earns a B+ for now but could look like an A at the end of the season if Gordon keeps elevating his game and more nickel corners sign long-term extensions. Tennessee Titans nickel cornerback Roger McCreary is due up and will likely surpass Gordon's contract, just like he did with Pitre.
The Bears couldn't let Gordon get away and made the right move to extend him. It's even better knowing Poles was able to hit on his first draft pick as general manager, something his predecessors like Ryan Pace, Phil Emery, Jerry Angelo, and Mark Hatley couldn't accomplish.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Grading the Bears' extension of CB Kyler Gordon
Continue reading...
