The Chicago Bears have completely revamped the defensive side of the ball this offseason adding new pieces that actually fit the scheme defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is looking to run going into Year 2.

While fans are still upset about the lack of investments off the edge to boost the pass rush, the second and third levels of this unit have greatly improved with the roster turnover Chicago made over the last few months.

Looking at the unit, one starting position is still up for grabs at the outside CB2 spot opposite Jaylon Johnson with players such as Tyrique Stevenson, rookie Malik Muhammad, and others vying for the role.

It’s going to be a healthy, competitive, battle for the position that’s been a weak link for Chicago’s defense in the past. And ESPN had an unconventional approach for how the Bears should handle the position.

ESPN believes the Chicago Bears should maximize one last year out of Tyrique Stevenson

After letting Pro Bowl alternate Nahshon Wright walk in free agency, the door was open for Stevenson to earn his starting position back. Stevenson opened the 2025 season as a starter while Johnson was out due to injury and make some splash plays early in the year.

His inconsistent nature eventually caught up to him and burned some of the confidence he had from the coaching staff, leading to a decline in play-time once Johnson returned. Stevenson is now entering into a now-or-never season going into the final year of his contract and the staff is willing to give him a second chance to prove himself.

Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson is motivated for 2026 as he enters the final year of his contract:

“this shit been eating at my mind bruh. Got back up like at 4:30, 5, no sleep. Only really on a hour, hour and a half right now. Now I’m finna leave here, go back to the Bears facility… pic.twitter.com/yA7YgYDfBS

— Bearsszn (@bearszn) March 25, 2026

ESPN’s Ben Solak believes maximizing one more year out of Stevenson could play out perfectly for Chicago in 2027, unless Muhmmad beats out Stevenson for the job first.

“The Bears would much prefer Stevenson to play (and excel) over Muhammad. That would mean Stevenson could walk in free agency, sign a huge deal elsewhere and give Chicago a nice compensatory pick in return. But if Muhammad shines in camp, the Bears might struggle to keep him off the field while Stevenson gets targeted opposite Johnson.”

Solak essentially believes 2026 will be Stevenson’s final year in Chicago and I would agree with that mindset. The team’s former second-round pick has been too volatile to be a reliable starter but the exact kind of experienced player another team would gamble on.

In Chicago’s case, the Bears just drafted Zah Frazier in 2025 and traded up to end Muhammad’s fall in the fourth-round. So, the Bears can afford to let Stevenson walk next year like they just did with Wright and hope his market is high enough to earn a comp pick.

Starting Stevenson in 2026 for the sake of building outside interest on the open market in 2027 is an unconventional approach but one teams have used in the past. However, Muhammad is the one that could hamper those plans.

If Muhammad earns a starting role over Stevenson, Stevenson’s market in 2027 would fall compared to him hitting free agency after full season as the starter. In theory, this isn’t something the Bears are actually concerned about. The coaching staff will simply evaluate the best player available to start Week 1 and adjust as needed.

But, what Solak laid out is real when it comes to Stevenson’s long-term future and the idea of the Bears netting a future comp pick. It’s a hidden detail that makes this battle even more important to watch unfold heading into training camp later this summer.