The Chicago Bears continued to add to their secondary during the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected cornerback Kindle Vildor with the 163rd pick in the fifth round.
Vildor, a talented defensive back out of Georgia Southern, is the latest addition to the Bears secondary and joins former Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson as the team’s other cornerback picked in the draft. Vildor started three seasons for the Eagles and was named to the Sun Belt first team in his final two years in college.
Get to know Vildor below and learn what he brings to the table:
1. Vildor held his own against the Clemson Tigers
When Georgia Southern visit the Clemson Tigers in 2018, they got rolled, as expected. But according to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, Vildor played well against the powerhouse program, not allowing one completion and intercepting Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, his first thrown pick of the year.
Vildor also defended second-round pick receiver Tee Higgins during the game as well. While it’s hard to justify one game deciding a player’s future, it definitely had an impact as Bryant was benched for college superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence just two weeks later.
Despite playing at a small program, Vildor stood up to some of the highest competition out there. That bodes well for his NFL future as he’ll face the best of the best.
2. He also shined at the 2020 Senior Bowl
Vildor was invited to participate in the 2020 Senior Bowl this past winter and he made the most of his opportunity, intercepting Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson on a dig route and returning the ball 22 yards.
Vildor finished the game with one tackle and one interception.
3. 2019 was Vildor’s worst college season
Had he continued to ascend following the 2018 season, Vildor may have been a Day 2 pick. Instead, Vildor struggled at times during the 2019 season, statistically having his worst year, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
PFF gave Vildor a grade of 65.1 last season, down significantly from his 2018 season score of 90.4. Vildor gave up 29 receptions on 47 targets for 319 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions as well. Quarterbacks when targeting him had a rating of 78.2.
He wasn’t necessarily bad, but his production dropped off to some extent. Could that benefit the Bears in the long run?
4. He should contribute on special teams
One of the selling points that drew the Bears to Vildor was his ability and willingness to contribute as a special teamer. In fact, Bears general manager Ryan Pace confirmed as much in his post-draft press conference.
Vildor will likely see most of his time on special times during his rookie season, especially considering the veterans the Bears signed earlier this offseason and the selection of Johnson in the draft. But those reps will be crucial for the rookie and should benefit him in the long run, while giving the Bears a solid tackler who can play from Day 1.
5. He’s ecstatic to be a Chicago Bear
Getting drafted to be in the NFL is truly a dream come true for players and seeing the reaction videos simply confirms that. But seeing the genuine smile and excitement on Vildor’s face when he receives the call from the Bears is a wonderful moment.
Vildor is the type of player who should win over fans immediately with his aggressive and sure-fire tackling. Fans love special team’s ace defensive back Sherrick McManis, and perhaps Vildor follows in his footsteps.
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