Versatile chess piece could be the missing link for Dennis Allen’s defense the Bears should seriously consider in the second-round
Treydan Stukes could be the ideal option to round out the secondary for the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears had a clear directive this offseason with the way the front office overhauled the defensive side of the ball and added more speed to fit in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme.
Yet, the job isn’t finished. The Bears still have a lot of work to do on that side of the ball despite all of the additions already made headlined by safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush. For starters, the Bears still need another starter at safety and an impact pass rusher off the edge and could benefit from more competition at the outside cornerback spot.
At this point, the Bears are banking on the 2026 NFL Draft to address those needs and the team has a few different paths to consider. Chicago can either use the first-round pick on a top safety like Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren or draft an edge rusher with the 25th overall pick and find a starting safety option on Day 2.
If the Bears go with the second route, one fascinating chess piece stands out that can allow Allen to get dangerously creative with how he deploys his secondary.
Treydan Stukes would be a fascinating second-round option for the Chicago Bears
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes is starting to have a decent rise up the projected boards with one month remaining until the 2026 NFL Draft. The A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database currently has an ADP of 74.57 for Stukes but the latest two-round mock draft from A to Z Sports had Stukes selected 51st overall. He is firmly in the mix as a mid-late second-round option.
The Bears have two selections in that range (57 and 60) and could be eye balling Stukes to see if he has a slight fall once we get to the actual draft. How he potentially fits in Chicago’s secondary is what makes things exciting to consider.
Stukes fits best as a nickel/box player with limited experience as a free safety, which is the kind of player the Bears are searching for to pair with Bryant. That versatility is key and can allow him to take over the role playing closer to the line of scrimmage and he plays the style of ball the Bears want to play in 2026 with his downhill aggressiveness.
“I’m hearing that I’m flexible enough to play multiple positions with terrific versatility. Wherever I end up, I’ll be willing to play wherever they have a plan for me,” Stukes told Justin Melo of NFL Draft on SI.
Within that interview, Stukes noted he had a formal interview at the NFL Combine with the Bears, confirming the team’s interest. Later at the event, Stukes posted the third-fastest 40-yard-dash time among all safeties, and we all know the Bears are looking to get faster on defense.
What about Kyler Gordon? Well, that’s the exciting aspect of this to potentially see what the Bears could do with Stukes and Gordon in the same secondary. Allen loves having defensive chess pieces to move around with his defensive backs and already hinted last year about the idea of playing Gordon at safety.
“Some of the things that I see him do and the way that he fits in the run game tells me that he could be a fit with safety also,” Allen said of Gordon. “We’ve had guys that have had the flexibility to play a lot of different positions. I think that’s important in today’s football where you’re not just locked into one thing. Being able to be multiple and do a lot of different things. That’s something that I think he can do.”
Waiting until the third-round to find a start safety would be a big gamble for the Bears. If the team misses out on one of the top options in the first-round, the Bears should really give Stukes a closer look if he’s on the board and then let Allen cook with the pieces on the table.
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