Miami Football CB Tyrique Stevenson fit with Chicago Bears

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was the 56th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears after two seasons with the Miami football program. Stevenson joins a Bears organization that is young and thin at CB. Entering his rookie season, Stevenson will have an opportunity to compete to be a starter.

Kyler Gordon was drafted by Chicago with the 39th overall pick in the second round in 2022. Gordon led Chicago CBs playing 79.41 percent of the snaps in 2022. Jaylon Johnson who will be entering his fourth season in the NFL in 2023 played 60.48 percent of the defensive snaps last season.

No other Chicago CB played over 50 percent of the snaps in 2022. Stevenson provides the Bears with the versatility to play outside or in the slot and the potential to move him, Gordon and Johnson around. All three can play outside or in the slot. Stevenson will be able to develop as part of a young group of Chicago CBs.

Gordon was the first pick by Chicago in the 2022 second round, 39th overall in the second round. Johnson was the 50th pick overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by Chicago. The Bears traded the 61st and 135th picks to Jacksonville for the 56th pick to move up and select Stevenson to improve their depth and talent at CB.

Courtney Cronin of ESPN stated that Stevenson is perfect for the Bears in the Tampa two system utilized by Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus. Cronin projects that Stevenson could compete to start opposite Johnson. That would send Gordon inside in the nickel package. Wide receivers burned the Bears in 2022.

Per Cronin, the Bears allowed 9.7 yards per target in 2022 to WRs. That was a half-yard worse than anyone in the NFL. Stevenson had a 17 QBR grade as the primary defender in coverage with the Miami football team. That was 11th among Power Five players with a minimum of 500 snaps in coverage per Cronin.

Cronin also mentioned that Stevenson held quarterbacks to a 2.6 QBR in 107 snaps playing press-man coverages in the last two seasons. That was first among FBS defenders with at least 50 snaps in press-man coverage. Stevenson’s physicality should help him be a three-down CB who will help versus the run.