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Ryan Poles made easy decisions with the Bears’ cornerbacks the last two years. He invested a combined $116 million to extend the contracts of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon for a total of seven seasons. The next call on a commitment may not be so easy.
With Johnson, Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith and Josh Blackwell all under contract through 2026, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is inheriting a strong group of young corners, none older than 26. But it’s the seemingly stalled development of the 24-year-old Stevenson that could determine if this is a sustainable, winning core.
If Stevenson elevates his play this year, he’ll put himself in the same position as Johnson and Gordon when they were signed to deals beyond their rookie contracts. If not, the Bears will likely move on, drafting or signing a replacement.
They may use a draft pick this month on a corner, creating more competition for Stevenson beyond Smith, a fifth-round pick from Minnesota who came to the Bears in the same 2023 draft as Stevenson. Smith has started only six games in two seasons but last year was the best pass defender in the group, earning a 76.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
Poles has said there will be competition for the starting spot in training. It will be telling if Stevenson doesn’t get a chance for redemption under Allen and new head coach Ben Johnson.
Poles was so impressed by what he saw from Stevenson at the University of Miami and the NFL Combine he traded up to get him in the second round of the 2023 draft. He was rewarded with a strong rookie season in which Stevenson started 16 games and was ranked 80th among NFL cornerbacks by PFF.
But then Stevenson got caught paying more attention to Washington fans than Commanders’ wide receiver Noah Brown on a game-winning Hail Mary pass in Week 8, subjecting himself to a harsh examination. He’s a risk-reward type player — his gamble on a route in the ’24 opener created a 43-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter of a comeback win over Tennessee — but seemed to lose in swagger after getting embarrassed.
The Bears won only one of their last 11 games, and trust in Stevenson ebbed. He had been expected to improve in his second season but PFF graders ranked him 83rd among 116 qualifying cornerbacks.
While Stevenson must prove himself in training camp, Gordon has peace of mind after signing a three-year, $40-million extension, a record for a slot corner. He was Poles’ first ever draft pick, coming to Chicago with the 39th overall pick in 2022 after former general manager Ryan Pace sent the first-round pick to the Giants to move up 10 spots in the ’21 draft to take Justin Fields.
Gordon played behind Johnson and Kindle Vildor as a rookie but has steadily carved out his niche as a nickel corner, playing 78 percent of defensive snaps last season despite missing time with a hamstring injury. He is respected both for his coverage skills and his tackling, with PFF ranking him 13th among cornerbacks last season, only two spots behind Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowl player.
Gordon had been 109th as a rookie and 57th in 2023. That’s the kind of progression Poles hoped for with Stevenson.
Chicago ranked 14th in the NFL in passing yards allowed last season, including 52 on that tide-shifting 52-yarder from Jayden Daniels to Brown. That was the moment that best explains how a 4-2 start turned into a sixth consecutive non-winning season, although Bears fans probably would also like to forget a few dozen sacks of Caleb Williams too.
While the Bears’ secondary was tough to pass against — 10th with a 64.6 completion percentage, there’s room for improvement. Opponents averaged 7.9 yards per catch, which ranked 29th.
Poles and Johnson attacked the offensive line breakdowns by importing three veterans through trades and free agency, including All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. They are making additions on defense too but believe they largely have the talent needed to reach the postseason. They hope Stevenson can be part of a lasting solution, playing alongside Johnson and Gordon for at least the next three seasons.
