The Chicago Bears rewarded cornerback Kyler Gordon with a contract extension this offseason, making him the league's highest-paid slot cornerback.
New Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen believes Gordon can do more than just man the slot, though.
“Does he go outside and compete at outside corner? Does he compete some at safety? I've told him that he needs to be learning both of those spots,” Allen said this week regarding Gordon’s versatility. “We'll figure out where that second position is where he can go and compete. Hopefully we can find some more playing time for him.”
In 15 games played during the 2024 season, Gordon recorded a career-best 75 tackles, four tackles for loss and two QB hits. However, he played only 77.5% of Chicago's defensive snaps, his lowest amount thus far in his three-year career.
Gordon earned a 76 overall grade from PFF, 20th among all 222 qualified cornerbacks.
With Gordon performing well but seeing a decline in defensive snaps across each of his first three seasons, Allen is intent to keep the fourth-year cornerback on the field more moving forward by unlocking his versatility.
“He's played more outside corner, so obviously that would be the comfort level,” Allen said of Gordon. “Some of the things that I see him do and the way that he fits in the run game tells me that he could be a fit with safety also. We've had guys that have had the flexibility to play a lot of different positions.
“I think that's important in today's football where you're not just locked into one thing. Being able to be multiple and do a lot of different things. That's something that I think he can do. As we get to know him better, spend more time with him, start to get out on the field with him a little bit more, we'll have a better feel for where that second position might be, and where we want to try to work him.”