Tyrique Stevenson looked like a potential fixture for the Chicago Bears‘ defense by the end of the 2023 season. He’d overcome a rough rookie year to take considerable steps forward. He’d validated the team’s decision to take him in the 2nd round. His blend of athleticism and physicality felt like a good fit for the defense they wanted to play. Then 2024 happened. In addition to some rough games throughout the season, Stevenson’s star fell considerably after his disastrous antics in the Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders.
Since then, it has felt like he has never managed to regain his credibility or the organization’s trust. That became evident when they significantly reduced his snaps midway through last season, choosing to stick with Nahshon Wright. Some have wondered what Stevenson’s future is in Chicago. He is in the last year of his rookie contract and nowhere close to earning an extension. According to Ben Solak of ESPN, there is a greater likelihood he could remain benched or even be dismissed from the team via a cut or trade.
Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Chicago Bears
A surprise faller to Day 3 of the draft was Texas CB Malik Muhammad. A multiyear starter and still just 21 years old, Muhammad has the profile of someone who gets drafted on Day 2. That’s especially true when you factor in his combine testing, where Muhammad had a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-11 broad jump, all at 6-foot with arms over 32 inches. I still don’t know how that skill set made it to Round 4…
…Stevenson in particular struggled last season, his first under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen; Stevenson’s 9.8 yards per target allowed ranked third worst among all cornerbacks (minimum 50 targets).
The Bears would much prefer Stevenson to play (and excel) over Muhammad. That would mean Stevenson could walk in free agency, sign a huge deal elsewhere and give Chicago a nice compensatory pick in return. But if Muhammad shines in camp, the Bears might struggle to keep him off the field while Stevenson gets targeted opposite Johnson.
Stevenson should be grateful for the Zah Frazier fiasco.
The former 5th round pick was recently waived by the Bears, removing one of the expected pieces of competition in a crowded cornerback room. It isn’t clear what the problem with Frazier was. Theories suggest he hasn’t gotten over the death of his girlfriend in 2023, which is what led to his year-long sabbatical from the team in 2025. The Bears finally seem to have run out of patience waiting for him to be ready. His exit reduces the likelihood that Stevenson’s roster spot is in trouble.
That said, the threat to his job as a starter remains very real. Malik Muhammad exhibits many of the traits that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris prefer. He’s tall, long, athletic, and fluid in coverage. He has that ability to mirror receivers in their routes, squeezing throwing windows. This was always a problem with Tyrique Stevenson. Sometimes he could do that too, but others he’d give up way too many easy completions. That inconsistency is part of why he got benched.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
The big unknown will be Terell Smith.
Chicago’s other former 5th round pick was playing really well in training camp and the preseason last year. Unfortunately, a knee injury ended his season. He should be fully recovered by now and ready for training camp. How he performs coming off that injury will also dictate Stevenson’s job security. There is also the outside chance the Bears decide to bring in a prominent veteran following Frazier’s departure. L’Jarius Sneed has ties to general manager Ryan Poles and is free of his legal issues.
That will be something to watch in the coming weeks. The point remains that Stevenson approaches by far the most important training camp of his life. Forget a long-term extension from the Bears. That ship probably sailed some time ago. He is fighting for his financial future as a pending free agent. This will be his best professional opportunity to secure a massive new contract. Getting benched in favor of a rookie or a former backup would be the kiss of death.
