Ryan Poles never trades up in the draft. Or at least that was the standing belief through the first eight rounds of work he’d produced as Chicago Bears GM. That changed when he jumped up in the 2nd round last April to grab Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. The move was a surprise since the Bears had already drafted Kyler Gordon in the 2nd round the year before. However, it was clear the team loved what he brought to the table. His size, athleticism, and gritty demeanor fit what they wanted to do defensively.
Bears fans didn’t react too much to the pick. Their focus was understandably on the two players he got sandwiched between: Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. Chicago’s defensive line was a mess in 2022. So it’s only natural they’d be interested in two defensive tackles that could potentially fix it. Time has shown their intrigue may have been misplaced. Peter King of NBC Sports Chicago listed his three biggest contenders for Defensive Rookie of the Year this season. You’ll never guess who stands among them.
“Defensive rookie: Overall pick in parentheses. 1. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia (9). 2. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Chicago (56). 3. Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston (3).
Voters will have to see how disruptive Carter is, because others will have better stats.”
Tyrique Stevenson made a big statement this past month.
The Defensive Rookie of the Year award has been around since 1967. In that time, three Bears players have claimed the honor. Wally Chambers did so in 1973, Mark Carrier claimed it in 1990, and finally, Brian Urlacher was the last to do so in 2000. Since then, no Bears rookie has managed to break through despite some strong contenders like Charles Tillman, Tommie Harris, and Roquan Smith. Being the first player to do so in 23 years and the first corner in Bears history to do it would be quite an achievement for Stevenson.
His preseason performance showcased how talented he is. Across three games, he had 13 tackles, seven run stops, and an interception. He should’ve had two more interceptions, but the ball went through his hands both times. It was evident that Tyrique Stevenson has the size, athleticism, and ball skills to be a very good player for this franchise.
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So what must he do to reach the achievement? Three cornerbacks have won Defensive Rookie of the Year in the past 20 years. Marcus Peters had eight interceptions and 26 passes defended in 2015. Marshon Lattimore had five interceptions and 18 passes defended in 2017. Finally, Sauce Gardner had two interceptions and 20 passes defended last year. It’s pretty clear. To win that award, Stevenson must get his hands on the football a lot.
