Thomas Graham Jr. Can Be Future CB2 For The Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears might have found a key secondary contributor in rookie corner Thomas Graham Jr.

Another week passed in the NFL and yet another Chicago Bears disappointment ended up on TV. The Bears didn’t take advantage of opportunities against the Vikings and fell 17-9 at home. Justin Fields again played better than many might lead you to believe, but a bevy of simple errors cost the Bears in this one. Could Matt Nagy be fired this week? It’s possible.

There were still some positives to take away from this game, especially from the shorthanded secondary that played well. The most notable of those players is rookie Thomas Graham Jr., who played a great game and could become a future CB2 next to Jaylon Johnson in this defense.

Graham, a sixth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, opted out of his final season with the Oregon Ducks. The tape was still strong enough for him to get drafted, landing with the Bears on day three. He stuck on the practice squad until he was needed on Monday night, and was brought up to the active roster.

Graham had three pass breakups and just allowed 10 yards in coverage against the Vikings, making the most of his opportunity. He thrived at the catch point, showing off great timing and physicality, something he did time and time again with the Ducks in college. While there were some agility questions, his patience and willingness to stay in phase was evident, and many believed he could be a starting slot corner soon in the NFL.

The Chicago Bears rewarded Graham by keeping him on the active roster, and that hopefully means we will see more of Graham in these final three weeks. His base skill set offers the Bears plenty, and with more development, he could become a very solid CB2 in the future and help the secondary reach new heights.