NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears wrapped up NFL Draft weekend by making 10 picks. No, they didn’t fill every vacancy, but second-year GM Ryan Poles added potential starters and intriguing depth options to the mix. We’ll meet the Bears’ 10 draft picks, get to know a bit about their past, and where they project to go moving forward.
TYRIQUE STEVENSON (ROUND 2, PICK 56)
• Position: Cornerback
• College: Miami (Fla.)
• Height, weight, hand size, arm length: 6-0, 198 pounds, 9 5/8″ hands, 32 3/8″ arms
I find it notable that Ryan Poles used three of the four second-round picks he has had in his first two years as GM on defensive backs. Two of those picks have been cornerbacks. This is an intriguing strategy. It’s almost as if it is part of a plan. A plan that I hope works out for the Bears. Especially if Stevenson can join Kyler Gordon as a starter in his first year.
HIGHLIGHTS
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
- Hunts for the hands to break up catch tries.
One of my favorite things about watching cornerbacks work is seeing how they go about dislodging would-be completions.
- Springy leaper with high-point talent.
Those are the kinds of skills that make for strong contests of 50-50 balls.
- Height-weight-speed prospect with explosive athletic traits.
More on that below when you look at his RAS.
WEAKNESSES
- Fails to recognize plays developing around him.
Welp, that’s a cause for concern. Perhaps this is something that can be worked on in film study.
- Multiple busts in zone coverages.
This is scary. But also, perhaps a sign to not put him in too many zone coverages. It is clear his strength is as a press-man defender, so let him operate on that level.
- Takes inconsistent angles in run support.
This is definitely something that can be improved upon with dedication in the film room and some hands-on instruction from Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff.
Lance Zierlein’s NFL Comparison: James Bradberry
Seeing the James Bradberry comp from NFL media’s Lance Zierlein definitely had my eyebrows going UP! Bradberry was on my offseason watch list of cornerbacks who I thought the Bears might kick the tires on in free agency had they been inclined to spend money at the position. Instead, the front office invested a draft pick on hopefully unearthing the next Bradberry. Don’t get me wrong. I love spending dollars in free agency. And it is all the more enjoyable when it is other people’s money. But I’m digging the process of building the secondary through the draft.
RELATIVE ATHLETIC SCORE
Relative Athletic Score grades player measurements on a 0-10 scale and compares them to their contemporaries. It is a unique way to give some of these prospects some more depth and perspective.
WHERE HE FITS
Could be a Week 1 starter if he has a strong preseason.
One of the most refreshing things about the coaching change from one Matt (Nagy) to the other (Eberflus) has been Eberflus’ willingness to play young players. Because while Nagy was basically scoffing at the idea of giving young players some burn at the expense of vets, Eberflus didn’t seem to have an issue with a trial-by-fire approach. There were growing pains, to be sure. Most notably with cornerback Kyler Gordon. But by year’s end, Gordon’s arrow was pointing up. Perhaps history will repeat itself with Stevenson. And it could happen as quickly for Stevenson as it did for Gordon.
A realistic best-case scenario for this defense looks like this:
- Stevenson picks up the defense quickly in the offseason
- Opens eyes during training camp and the preseason
- Establishes himself as a solid boundary corner
- And allows Gordon to move inside where his skills play up in the slot
And even if that best-case scenario plays out, we still should account for bumps in the road when it comes to development.
One area I’m curious to see if Stevenson will get some action is as a punt returner. Stevenson returned 12 punts for 133 yards (that’s an 11.1 yards/return average) in 32 games from 2020-22. The Bears’ return game figures to be an open competition. Perhaps that could be an additional bonus Stevenson’s game provides. Just something to stash in your memory banks when training camp begins this summer.
