After his rookie season, no one would have suspected that Tyrique Stevenson would be this low on any sort of roster ranking.
However, as Stevenson heads into year three, it now feels much more like a season that could change the trajectory of his career and his future with the Bears.
Chicago Bears 2025 roster ranking: Number 25 — Tyrique Stevenson
Stevenson flashed as a rookie but took a step back in year two. He will be remembered as the player who celebrated before Jayden Daniels completed a Hail Mary to his side of the field. That was just the highlight-worthy moment, but in between and even after that were instances of immaturity both on the sideline and on the field. His play was not strong even when he was locked in.
Ryan Poles drafted Stevenson, but the new defensive coaching staff has no ties to him. They will not hesitate to say he is not a fit and move on. So, this could easily be Stevenson’s final year as a starter.
In fact, the sample is still small, but the defense has consistently performed better when fellow third-year cornerback Terell Smith is on the field instead of Stevenson. When debating which players are the most valuable on the roster, you have to consider the drop-off between a starter and his backup. Not only has Smith flashed in both of his seasons as a reserve, but the Bears also added Zah Frazier in the draft, even if it was only in the fifth round.
Stevenson is likely to be one of the top 22 players on game days, and he may finish in the top 10 in defensive snaps. However, if he were to get injured or his play declined, the team might not feel it much, and if they do, the drop-off may be minimal with Smith stepping in.
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While there’s still a chance his upside proves worthy of a higher ranking, the floor and minimal gap behind him place him at number 25.