Here’s your classic small-school guy who Ryan Pace likes to draft in the middle rounds. Kindle Vildor had an outstanding 2018 junior season with four interceptions and 15 passes defended, and probably could have turned pro. He decided to go back to Georgia Southern in 2019, and while his numbers dipped, he played in two fewer games.
The Bears drafted Vildor with the No. 163 overall pick in the fifth round. It was their second cornerback selection of the draft and the fourth in two years.
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Strengths: Good length at his size allows him to play bigger. Looks comfortable in press coverage. Can’t argue with the production – he makes plays on the ball. Was a team captain as a senior.
Weaknesses: At 5-foot-9 7/8, Vildor might be limited to the slot. At that size, you wish he was a touch faster (4.44 40-yard). Production dipped as a senior, but he was dealing with an ankle injury suffered in October.
Vildor's scouting report on himself: "You’re getting an overall fundamentally sound cornerback that can play outside, inside, someone that’s fluid, can play nickel, can play press. Just a cornerback that can pretty much do anything in the back end that you need him to do. Somebody with amazing ball skills, good speed, good strength and just ready to compete every single Sunday."
Ryan Pace's take: "Just excellent football makeup ... Consistent production throughout his college career. Another guy that went to the Senior Bowl and played well. I know he had a pick the the first practice. He had another interception in the game. So he's got high-end ball skills. He can play inside, he can play outside. We stress confidence when we talk about the corner position, and he definitely has that confidence and that playing demeanor that we look for. A skill set that also translates well to special teams, which is going to be important especially in the early part of his development."
The tweet: