LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- When the Falcons drafted cornerback Desmond Trufant in the first round in 2013, there was a freshman in high school southeast of Atlanta who instantly became a fan.
That was Kindle Vildor, who's now a second-year cornerback with the Bears and competing against Trufant for a starting spot.
"Now that he's on my team, it's crazy how everything works," Vildor said.
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When the Bears released their first unofficial depth chart Tuesday afternoon, Vildor's name was listed ahead of Trufant's at the starting cornerback spot opposite of Jaylon Johnson. There's still a month left in the competition, but it's clear the Bears believe in Vildor.
Entering training camp, the veteran Trufant seemed like he had the inside track to be starter opposite of Johnson. The Bears signed Trufant to a one-year deal, believing his experience would benefit the secondary after the team's release of Kyle Fuller this offseason.
But the 23-year-old Vildor has made sure this is a competition at cornerback. A fifth-round pick of the Bears in 2020, he played in all 16 regular-season games and started in the team's wild-card game in January last season. As the Bears cleaned out the visiting locker room after their loss to the Saints in the Superdome, Vildor's coaches praised him for how well he played in a key opportunity.
Bears secondary coach Deshea Townsend believes Vildor benefited from his time as a reserve.
"He had a chance to kind of learn and watch others," said Townsend, who like Vildor was a Day 3 draft pick. "I think that was good for Kindle's growth. He didn't come in being forced to play like Jaylon. So he had an opportunity to get a lot of scout-team reps, hear a lot of the coaching, watch what he could've done differently.
"He made the most of it when he got his opportunity. When you saw him in those opportunities, the things that got him here, you saw it. He could press. He's a press corner. He has long arms. He can get his hands on guys. And that's the thing that you want to see him do and get better at."
The Bears signed the eight-year veteran Trufant on March 20, the same day Fuller's release became official. But that didn't necessarily mean the starting job would be his.
Vildor has proved to the Bears that he can handle the role. Now he must beat out the veteran he once rooted for.
"I feel like it’s a big opportunity for me to solidify myself as a starter in this league and on this team and everything like that," Vildor said.
"That’s just been my focus, just working hard every day, putting in the work and showcasing my talent."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.