Bears slot cornerback Kyler Gordon will be eligible for a contract extension for the first time this offseason. A player can get a raise after the third year of his rookie contract, which he’ll complete on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

He knows that particular NFL rule for one big reason.

Everyone keeps telling him about it. Like friends and family.

“The whole world,” Gordon said with a smile.

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The Bears don’t have to extend him this offseason, but it might be smart. Gordon has been really good thus far and doesn’t show any signs of changing his career arc. So, in sum, he isn’t getting any cheaper.

He’ll be set for unrestricted free agency after the 2025 season, and the team won’t want him to use what could be a robust open market as a leverage point.

The Bears have tons of salary cap space, too, and could absorb a front-loaded deal with ease at this point.

It has to be something the front office has discussed, though a new coach’s defensive philosophy might have some influence on it as well. While Gordon is a slot cornerback, the Bears practically live in the nickel package because Gordon is versatile enough to be a stout run player and a quality cover man, leaving little reason to take him off the field.

Gordon said he hasn’t pondered thoughts of an extension too often at this point, but understands the prospect is out there.

“I haven’t thought a ton about it,” Gordon said. “Like a lot of people started to bring it up to me, often, now. Really I’ve just been focusing on ending out the year right and good. I love Chicago. I love the people here the fans. Everything, so if I’m grateful enough to get that, then that’s what it would be. God willing or whatever he does and chooses.

“I haven’t really thought about it a too much, but I’m just focused on playing football and ending out my season right, really.”

Gordon has played well in 2024. He has 71 tackles, including 13 stops, a half sack while allowing 34 catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns on 48 targets. He plays 77 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

He’s scheduled to make $1.8 million next year and comes with a $2.7 million salary cap hit. Cornerback is considered a premium position, and the league’s best get paid a ton. Finding a proper value could be tricky after Gordon’s third season, but offering long-term security to the play could be attractive with so little left on his contract, and it might be worth taking somewhat of a hometown discount.

It’s definitely worth some discussion with Gordon’s representatives, to see if an important defensive piece can be secured right now over waiting until his contract expires.

Gordon is a tough critic but agrees that he has had a solid season. Ask him about it directly, though, and he talks about finding ways to be even better.

“I just keep trying to elevate my game and grow in my areas the same way I do every year,” Gordon said. “I don’t necessarily look at so much the good, but just look at the weaknesses where I can improve and obviously do more during the offseason, but yeah obviously you want to do anything you can do to get the dub. So, yeah, just constantly finding more ways to produce more.”