As the Chicago Bears get set for training camp, one bit of news broke that will wind up impacting one of the most polarizing players on the roster.
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner got his new deal. It was a 4-year, $120 million contract. Now, it's almost way too obvious what the Bears will end up doing with third-year pro Tyrique Stevenson.
As if the Bears were going to pay him big money, anyways, this all but confirms his future will not be in Chicago if he ends up balling out. In a weird way, Stevenson's situation in Chicago is almost a lose-lose.
Sauce Gardner's deal highlights the fact that Tyrique Stevenson won't be around for the long haul
If Stevenson bounces back from a rough second year and the infamous Fail Mary, sure, that would be a positive for the Bears. Chicago would love nothing more for Stevenson to morph into a legitimate, dependable starting corner. To this point, he's made some big plays. But, he's also taken some bad risks and gets burned on occasion.
If Stevenson doesn't end up turning things around, then the Bears won't keep him for the long haul. But, if he performs well and balls out in 2025, the Bears will be forced into not extending him.
The obvious reason is due to the fact that Chicago just cannot pay both Jaylon Johnson and Stevenson top dollar. It would be a great problem to have for the time being, before Stevenson ultimately leaves town, but it would end in exactly that fashion. He'd leave town.
If (and it's a big 'if') Stevenson performs to his ceiling, he'll almost certainly get a big contract with another team. Take into account that Johnson might also end up wanting a raise after his recently-signed deal already looks like a bargain.
Johnson got paid on a 4-year, $76 million contract just last summer. Now, Gardner gets a $44 million raise from that number. That's astounding, and it certainly leads one to believe Johnson could get himself a raise of his own before this deal is up.
Back to Stevenson. It's simple logic, at this point. If he performs, he'll sign a big deal when his rookie deal is up after the 2026 season. If he doesn't perform, then chances are, he won't be a starter for very long.
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Once again, this is a lose-lose scenario when it comes to the bigger picture. The hope is, if Stevenson ascends, the Bears can take full advantage and make a playoff run while he's still around.