So many reasons why signing Kyler Gordon was a no-brainer for Ryan Poles

It’s usually a good sign when NFL teams re-sign their own draft picks to long-term contracts. But cornerback Kyler Gordon, who signed a three-year, $40 million extension Tuesday, carries even more significance for Bears GM Ryan Poles — Gordon is his own draft pick. Previously, Poles has re-signed tight end Cole Kmet (four years, $50 million in 2023) and cornerback Jaylon Johnson (four years, $76 million in 2024) — both Ryan Pace draft picks.

Gordon, a second-round draft pick (No. 39 overall) in 2022, also is a reminder of the hole Poles was in when he was hired. Gordon was Poles’ first-ever draft pick as an NFL GM, because the Bears’ first-round pick (No. 7 overall) was traded to the Giants to move up nine spots (from No. 20 to No. 11) and take quarterback Justin Fields. 

The new deal makes Gordon the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL at $13.3 million per season. But like Johnson’s top-of-the-market extension last year, that’s an acceptable level because Gordon is likely to meet or exceed the level of play that earned him the deal. 

When Pace signed Eddie Jackson to a four-year, $58 million extension in 2020 that made Jackson the highest-paid safety in the NFL, it was an earned deal, but based on performance — including five defensive touchdowns — Jackson was unlikely to repeat. Sure enough, Jackson, while still effective, never lived up to the standard or his record-breaking contract. 

Gordon, like Jackson, made his most noticeable impact in his first two seasons — three interceptions as a rookie in 2022, two interceptions in 2023. But that’s where the comparison ends. Gordon had no interceptions in 15 games last season (with three fumble recoveries), but his impact was more noticeable to the naked eye without the splash plays. When you see the impact and value of a slot corner on a team and a defense that imploded in the second half of a 5-12 season, that’s a keeper. 

Bears slot cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) had 75 tackles and three fumble recoveries in 2024. | Abbie Parr/AP

Poles is the first Bears GM to sign his initial draft pick to a second contract since Jim Finks drafted Walter Payton in 1975. (The Bears did not have a GM when Dave Wannstedt/Rod Graves — who succeeded Bill Tobin in 1993 — drafted Curtis Conway, who re-signed with the Bears in 1996). 

Since then, vice president of player personnel Mark Hatley (running back Curtis Enis in 1998) and GMs Jerry Angelo (offensive tackle Marc Colombo in 2002), Phil Emery (defensive end Shea McClellin in 2012) and Pace (wide receiver Kevin White in 2015) all failed to re-sign their first draft pick as GM.

There are no guarantees in football, but Gordon’s new deal has all sorts upside. The slot corner is more important than ever in the NFL — much more of a starter in the Bears’ defense than the third linebacker. Gordon played 77.5% of the snaps in his 15 games — fifth highest on the defense behind safety Kevin Byard (98.9%), linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (98.9%) and T.J. Edwards (98.8%) and Johnson (96.6%). Third linebacker Jack Sanborn played 22% of the defensive snaps last year — and was let go in free agency.

That doesn’t figure to change under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. In Allen’s last full season as the Saints’ head coach, the third cornerback played 80.8% of the defensive snaps. Third linebacker Zack Baun played 27.2% of the defensive snaps (Baun blossomed into a playmaker under Vic Fangio with the Eagles last year — a first-team All-Pro and fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, but that’s another story for another day.)

And Gordon could provide an extra benefit that might give the Bears an upgrade where they arguably need it most — leadership. He’s been mostly in the background as a younger player in his first three seasons, but Gordon has an edge to him — with candor and maturity — that makes him a candidate to blossom into a voice in the locker room the Bears have lacked. 

Maybe it’s just a coincidence that the two games Gordon missed with a hamstring injury last year were at the root of the Bears’ demise — the Hail Mary loss to the Commanders on Oct. 27 and the 29-9 loss to the Cardinals the following week. But re-signing Kyler Gordon was an easy call that makes the Bears better on multiple levels.