The Chicago Bears are rolling along at 6-2 this season after Caleb Williams and the offense has taken a step forward, but Tyrique Stevenson has eroded just about every inch of patience this fanbase had. In tandem with Jaylon Johnson's regression, cornerback has shot to the top of their 2027 NFL Draft needs list.
While trading two first-round picks to the Tennessee Titans to acquire star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has robbed Ryan Poles of his two best roster-building assets, the Bears may be able to use their second-round pick to great effect as they try to make their secondary more consistently excellent.
Even in a cornerback class that is a bit lacking in terms of raw star power, the Bears could land a promising young defensive back who frees this fanbase from the tyranny of Stevenson on the outside.
5 Tyrique Stevenson replacements Bears can pick in 2027 NFL Draft
5. OJ Frederique, Miami
Replacing one Hurricanes defensive back with another may ruffle some feathers, especially when he hasn't played for most of the 2026 season with a shoulder injury. However, Frederique has oodles of talent as an aggressive corner with plus ball skills, and Poles will reach on guys who have raw athletic upside.
Athletes of Frederique's caliber with his football brain don't always make it until the second round.
4. Vicari Swain, South Carolina
Swain isn't a true outside cornerback, as he's played both in the slot and on the boundary in college. However, versatility is rarely a bad trait among defensive backs. When paired with a willingness to hit hard in run support and great speed, Swain has starter written all over him.
Swain may not be the best player from a purely positional fit point of view, but Poles will bet on talent above all else, and Swain has that.
3. DJ McKinney, Notre Dame
The Bears are far away from Leonard Moore territory, but they could supplement their secondary by adding one ofbthe best No. 2 cornerbacks in the country, if not the absolute best. A refugee from Deion Sanders' Colorado, McKinney has only allowed a single-digit number of catches on the entire season.
McKinney's length, burst, and aggression will appeal to Chicago, but he has an ankle injury that could impact his stock. A clean bill of health would be critical.
2. Audavion Collins, Penn State
Smaller players (5-11, 180 pounds) without gaudy turnover numbers rarely make for high-end prospects, but Collins has been putting the clamps on just about every wide receiver the Nittany Lions have faced. Given how well he understands positioning and mirrors routes, his size may not be an impediment.
This Bears staff has historically fawned over players who get physical at the line of scrimmage and harass wide receivers, and Collins fits that ethos perfectly.
1. Zabien Brown, Alabama
There is a Mount Rushmore of cornerback prospects atop this class. Moore is at the top, with Georgia's Ellis Robinson IV, Clemson's Ashton Hampton, and Mississippi State's Kelley Jones in hot pursuit. Brown is the No. 5 player behind them currently. With 4.3 speed and spectacular ball skills, Dennis Allen and Al Harris are dreaming of a player exactly like Brown.
If he falls to where the Bears are picking, Poles should run this card in so fast that the front office doesn't even know what is happening.
Add us as a preferred source on Google