Tyrique Stevenson was one of the most promising players on the Chicago Bears' defense entering the 2024 season, but his development seemed to have regressed throughout the year. Notably, Stevenson's efforts on Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary in Week 8 exposed the second-year cornerback.
Since that moment, it seemed that Stevenson had lost confidence in himself. While part of the reason why the Bears brought in Al Harris for their coaching staff was to get Stevenson back on track, his spot as a starting cornerback on the Bears' defense isn't a lock.
In the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears added a cornerback who is a direct fit for Dennis Allen's profile as a defensive coordinator.
Lockin' it down in the Windy City 🔒
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 26, 2025
Welcome to the squad, @ZFrazier19! pic.twitter.com/75eorSqYyd
Tyrique Stevenson may be on step closer to losing his job
Zah Frazier is a lanky cornerback with the size and speed that Allen loves to have in his defensive secondary. Frazier also had 6 interceptions last season with UTSA.
At the very least, Stevenson has been put on notice. This news Bears' coaching staff is not going to put up with the same regression that Stevenson had last season. The selection of Frazier isn't the first time that Stevenson's role has been brought into question.
After Kyler Gordon inked his contract extension with the Bears, Allen told reporters that the Bears plan on using him in different spots, including outside cornerback and safety. While that speaks more to Allen's creativity than it does Stevenson's regression, there is also no question that the third-year cornerback needs to take a step forward in his development.
Depending on where Gordon is lined up, there is also a chance that Frazier will see some time as the Bears' nickel cornerback. Versatility is the theme of the Bears' defense moving forward, and Frazier's speed certainly will help with that goal.