The Chicago Bears, somewhat quietly, acquired a possible longterm replacement for starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson on Day 3 of the NFL draft.
General manager Ryan Poles added Malik Muhammad, formerly of the Texas Longhorns, with the No. 124 overall pick in Round 4 early on Saturday, April 25. Analysts like Dane Brugler saw the value even before the selection was made, as Brugler ranked Muhammad the No. 11 overall CB on his big board and afforded him a third-round grade.
“Muhammad can be out-physicaled at times, but he plays with good reaction quickness and route instincts, which help him stay attached in man or zone,” Brugler wrote ahead of the draft. “He projects as a starter, with shades of Greg Newsome II.”
Ben Solak of ESPN recognized immediately what Muhammad might mean for the Bears’ defense over the next four years, particularly with regards to Stevenson — the current CB2 opposite two-time Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson and entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026.
“A multiyear starter and still just 21 years old, Muhammad has the profile of someone who gets drafted on Day 2,” Solak wrote on Wednesday, May 6. “Finding a depth cornerback to replace the outgoing Nahshon Wright was critical, as Stevenson’s volatile play alongside Jaylon Johnson’s injury history all but guarantees the No. 3 corner will see time in Chicago.”
Malik Muhammad Could Supplant Tyrique Stevenson as Starting CB During Rookie Campaign
GettyChicago Bears cornerback Malik Muhammad.
Solak added that the ideal outcome for the Bears is actually for Stevenson to keep his starting job in 2026, play beyond the best flashes he’s shown across 45 games played (40 starts) over the past three years, allow Muhammad to develop as CB3 and elevate into the starting role in 2027 when Stevenson hits free agency and presumably gets paid.
That said, given the “volatile” nature of Stevenson’s collective performance and Muhammad’s elite-level athleticism, coupled with the likelihood that the latter gets to display his skill set one way or another early in the upcoming season, Chicago may not be able to keep its fourth-rounder on the sidelines.
As such, Solak dubbed Stevenson “on the hot seat” heading into his fourth professional campaign.
“If Muhammad shines in camp, the Bears might struggle to keep him off the field while Stevenson gets targeted opposite Johnson,” Solak continued.
Dillon Thieneman Another Strong Addition to Bears’ Secondary During NFL Draft
GettyChicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman.
The Bears did not address the defensive line at all in the draft beyond selecting tackle Jordan van den Berg in the sixth round out of Georgia Tech, who is also an athletic prospect for his position and a player Chicago likes with regards to his longterm upside.
How much he might be able to contribute as a rookie is a question, but early projections from reporters/analysts close to the team suggest that van den Berg has a good chance to make the 53-man roster this summer and get some runway to develop.
What Chicago did do across draft weekend, however, was meaningfully restock its secondary. Beyond Muhammad in Round 4, the Bears selected former Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 overall pick to replace the departed Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker.
Thieneman has Defensive Rookie of the Year potential due to his ball production and the chance to make an outsized impact on a Bears defense that was well below-average outside of its turnover totals/rate last season.
Muhammad and Thieneman appear, early on anyway, as a cornerback-safety tandem that could define Chicago’s secondary in meaningful ways for the remainder of the 2020s.
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