Through the first two weeks of the season, the Chicago Bears are 23rd in the National Football League in both passing yards per game allowed and opponents' passer rating. They're also 22nd in passing yards allowed per game, and the numbers don't lie- this is their Achilles heel.
If there is one area the Bears need to strengthen up right now, it's pass defense, and a great place to start would be by adding depth and upgrading quality at the cornerback position.
Jaylon Johnson is a franchise level player, a bonafide star, but he can't do it all himself. The depth behind him is in injury crisis mode, and at the very least, the Bears could use a new, reliable nickel.
If Ryan Poles wants to go corner, here are three names to consider.
Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
Notre Dame's Leonard
Moore will not be on the board for the Bears unless either A. they traded way up or B. they had an unexpectedly disastrous 2025. Robinson exited UGA's route of Oklahoma on Saturday with an injury, but coach Kirby Smart said the situation "looks good," so he should be fine.
Robinson is a ball-hawking playmaker who excels in heavy press-man coverage and other aggressive schemes. It can feel like he might take some risks, sometimes, but it almost always works out for him.
In other words, he lives on the edge, but it pays off. Chicago might need a middle round pick to nab him, so if they make the playoffs again, trading up would probably be required to get him.
Zabien Brown, Alabama
Brown's specialty is avoiding chunk plays, and that perfectly fits in with one of the team's biggest needs. The NFC North is there for the taking, potentially for awhile, as both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions seem to be on the downswing. Yes, the Minnesota Vikings just beat them, but if Chicago can do a better job in not allowing chunk plays, their winning percentage will just continue going north.
Brown is an extremely disciplined defender, who rarely gets caught out of position.
Kelley Smith, Mississippi St.
If the Bears happen to be picking somewhere in the 20s, then this could be the guy. At the end of last season, Smith was second in the SEC with 11 passes broken up, and many believe that he could easily improve on that number this season. The phrase "shutdown corner" gets thrown around a lot these days, and often times, inappropriately.
However, Smith is a true "shut down corner."
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Three cornerback prospects that could fit in with the Chicago Bears
