Former Exec Promises Teams Will Regret Letting Bears Get Tyrique Stevenson

Something unique happened on April 28th. Up until the late 2nd round of the 2023 draft, Ryan Poles had never once traded up. Every move he'd made to that point was down. That changed when the Chicago Bears GM swung a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move from 61st overall to 56th. It cost the team its original 5th round pick. If Poles was willing to give up such a valuable selection, it was for somebody the team coveted. That pick resulted in Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

Poles stated there was fear another team would select the Hurricanes standout before he got to them at #61. That was validated when the Cincinnati Bengals took a cornerback at #60. The Bears wanted to make sure they got somebody they had high on their board. One person that understood immediately what had just happened was Louis Riddick. The former player personnel director and current ESPN analyst explained to Waddle & Silvy of ESPN 1000 that Stevenson is the quintessential Matt Eberflus cornerback. He couldn't have landed in a better situation, which doesn't bode well for the rest of the league.

Tyrique Stevenson solves a persistent issue for the Bears.

Many were concerned the team didn't have a viable cornerback option opposite Jaylon Johnson on the outside. This would force them to shift Kyler Gordon to that spot and away from his natural position at nickel. Stevenson is exactly what they needed. He was at his best on the outside for Miami, racking up two interceptions and seven passes defended as a senior. His work in zone coverage was the highlight of his tape, showcasing his instincts, ball skills, and physicality. It isn't a coincidence he has been compared to James Bradberry.

One can only hope Riddick is correct. Miami has a long history of producing underwhelming cornerbacks in the NFL, which is ironic since they delivered a slew of outstanding safeties. Tyrique Stevenson has a chance to change that trend and lands in the perfect scheme to do so. Eberflus will know precisely how to deploy him to full effect. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams is a defensive backs specialist, and few are better at developing players than cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke.