Bears rookie predictions: How many interceptions will Kyler Gordon have? How many yards for Velus Jones Jr.?

The Chicago Bears landed two starters with their first two selections of the 2022 NFL Draft in Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon and Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker. In the third round, they added Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., who’s expected to make a significant contribution in the passing game.

But just how productive will these first-year players be?

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Rill, the Bears will reap significant rewards from their draft class in 2022. Rill has Gordon logging four interceptions in his first season, which would be remarkable for a rookie. It would’ve tied for the fifth-highest total in 2021 (11 defensive backs snagged four picks).

“One thing that Gordon has proved he’s not afraid to do is take risks, as he showed the ability to jump in front of passes at the college level,” Rill wrote. “That’s why the prediction here is he’ll be a key turnover creator for the Chicago defense in 2022.”

Turnovers are a focal point for Head Coach Matt Eberflus and his defense in 2022. If Gordon contributes four interceptions in 2022, he’ll immediately become one of the foundational players in General Manager Ryan Poles’ rebuild.

Jaquan Brisker expected to be tackling machine

As for Brisker, his rookie outlook is impressive too.

“The Bears may be improved this upcoming season, but they still might endure some struggles before completely turning the corner,” Rill wrote. “So there could be a lot of opportunities for Brisker to run around the field and make tackles. That’s how he’ll end up among the team’s top-three tackle leaders for 2022 during an impressive rookie campaign.”

Both Bears’ second-round picks have been met with criticism. Poles’ decision to bypass a wide receiver for Gordon and Brisker has been viewed as irrational. But if Gordon wrangles four interceptions and Brisker is among the team’s leading tacklers, those criticisms will quickly turn into praise for the first-year general manager.

Velus Jones Jr. among top Bears’ skill players

Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr.”s outlook is promising too.

“Not only can Jones impact the game in various ways, but he also has tremendous speed, which he showed by running the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds at the combine,” Rill wrote. “So, while some may be skeptical of the pick now, he has a good chance to prove the critics wrong once he gets on the field for the Bears this season.”

Fantasy football managers won’t have Jones ranked high on their dynasty draft boards, nor should they. He’ll begin the 2022 season as, at best, the third option in the Bears” passing game behind wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle. With tight end Cole Kmet added to Justin Fields’ progressions, Jones could rank even lower than that.

But what makes Jones an attractive prospect is his one-touch skill set. He won’t need to be fed targets to be productive. His field-flipping speed can turn short gains into chunk plays, and the more of those he has, the more he’ll stuff the stat sheet.

One word to describe @VelusJr?

?? ELECTRIC ?? pic.twitter.com/Uq9HMTWAXH

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 30, 2022

I think it’s realistic to expect a season from Jones that resembles what Jets’ 2021 second-round pick, Elijah Moore, put together last year. Moore ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at his pro day and ended his rookie season with 43 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns. Granted, Moore did that in just 11 games, but if he averaged that rate of production for a full season, he would’ve ended 2021 with 66 catches for 831 yards and just under eight touchdowns.

Will Jones exceed 800 receiving yards in year one? It’s certainly within the range of outcomes considering the opportunities he’ll be given and his playmaking skill set.

The Bears’ 2022 NFL draft haul is being mocked right now, but there’s a long way to go. And if Poles’ first three picks produce anywhere near this level, Chicago will be one of the resounding winners of the 2022 NFL draft.