Bears pay up to trade up and draft Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson
The Chicago Bears must have been big fans of Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. The Bears traded the 61st and 135th overall picks to acquire No. 56 from the Jacksonville Jaguars to draft Stevenson. “Ouch this is an expensive trade, pricier than most others in the same range. Couple teams must have been calling on Tyrique […]
The Chicago Bears must have been big fans of Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
The Bears traded the 61st and 135th overall picks to acquire No. 56 from the Jacksonville Jaguars to draft Stevenson.
“Ouch this is an expensive trade, pricier than most others in the same range. Couple teams must have been calling on Tyrique Stevenson,” PFF analyst and Bears fan Brad Spielberger tweeted Friday night.
Stevenson, a Georgia transfer, ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at 6-feet, 198 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 38.5-inch vertical leap, 10-feet, 5-inch broad jump, 4.41-second short shuttle and 7.09-second 3-cone drilll.
He allowed just 17 catches on 40 targets for 353 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions with five pass breakups in 2022, per PFF.
Stevenson primarily played outside cornerback last season with the Hurricanes. He’s the third defensive back drafted by the Bears in the second round by general manager Ryan Poles. Chicago took cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker in the second round last season.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler praised Stevenson's ability to play man coverage in his annual draft guide.
"Overall, Stevenson needs to become more disciplined in coverage and versus the run, but he is a long, rangy corner with the speed and short-area athleticism to stay in phase. He is a press-man corner on the perimeter with NFL starting ability." — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
He was the 46th-ranked player in A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning's draft guide.
"Twitched up mover, has a real suddenness to his game. Can sidestep blockers in the run game with ease," Browning wrote about Stevenson.
Cornerback was a major need for the Bears that Stevenson can fill.
Featured image via Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
