3 Bears rookies named to Pro Football Focus’ 2022 All-Rookie Team

The Chicago Bears only won three games in 2022, but their season was still somewhat successful. They ended the year with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and several rookies gained invaluable experience in their first season.

Three of those Chicago Bears rookies were standout performers. They were so good that they were named to the Pro Football Focus All-Rookie Team.

Braxton Jones, Left Tackle (fifth-round pick)

Jones started every game at left tackle and performed better than anyone expected for a Day-3 pick from Southern Utah.

“One of the steals of the draft class so far,” PFF’s Mike Renner wrote. “The Bears” fifth-rounder did enough to put himself as their undisputed long-term starter at left tackle. He finished with a 79.4 run-blocking grade and a 70.5 pass-blocking grade on the season.”

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Jaquan Brisker, Safety (second-round pick)

Brisker had an impactful rookie year, leading the Bears” defense in sacks and providing a physical presence alongside Eddie Jackson. While there’s room for improvement against the run, there’s no doubt Brisker established himself as a long-term building block for coach Matt Eberflus’ defense.

“Brisker always seemed to be around the ball for Chicago as a rookie,” Renner wrote. “He finished his first season with 28 defensive stops, the 10th-most of any safety in the league. And he did it all from a number of alignments, with 371 snaps coming from the slot, 150 along the line of scrimmage, 289 deep and 100 from the slot.”

Michael Reaves – Getty Images

Jack Sanborn, Linebacker (undrafted free agent)

Sanborn was the darling of Chicago’s rookie class, and he wasn’t even drafted. Sanborn emerged as the replacement for Roquan Smith at linebacker and thrived. An injury ended his season early, but the former Wisconsin standout should be locked in as a starter in 2023. His future is very bright.

“Sanborn was a revelation in his albeit brief stint as the starting linebacker for the Bears,” wrote Renner. “In six games as a starter, he racked up 24 defensive stops. Extrapolate that to a full 17-game season, and it would have ranked second in the league. That’s quite the start of a career.”

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