Jaylon Johnson has established himself as the best cornerback the Chicago Bears have produced since Kyle Fuller. The fact they got him in late in the 2nd round is a testament to the great job done by the scouting department in 2020. While his ascent hasn’t always been steady, nobody can deny he morphed into one of the NFL’s best last season. He finished with four interceptions, barely missed a few others, and suffocated opposing receivers all season long. The crazy part is he may not be the best cornerback on the roster much longer. Not with Tyrique Stevenson present.
At least, that is what former scouting director Greg Gabriel thinks. On Windy City Gridiron, he explained that Stevenson has almost the exact same physical capabilities as Johnson, with one added dimension.
Opposite Johnson is second-year man Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson was selected in the second round last year and started from the get-go. Being a rookie, he started a little slow and was targeted often, but he improved with every game, and by the end of the year, he was playing like a solid vet. He finished the season with a huge 86 total tackles, four interceptions, and 16 passes defensed.
He has similar traits to Johnson in that he is tall, long, fast, and quick and may even be more physical. While it took Johnson four seasons to become a Pro Bowl player, Steveson may get there sooner.
It sounds crazy to think about, but the statements are true. Steven had the same number of interceptions as Johnson (4) and 86 tackles to Johnson’s 36. Yes, the latter was better in coverage, but Stevenson played like the more complete player. If he learns to avoid the little mistakes, that prediction is far from crazy.
Tyrique Stevenson may actually be a steal.
Remember, the Bears traded up in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft to get him. A lot of people thought that was unnecessary. GM Ryan Poles disagreed. He and head coach Matt Eberflus saw a player with massive untapped potential. His athletic ability and hard-nosed playing style were a perfect fit for the intense, physical style of defense they wanted to deploy. His first month was ugly as opponents picked on him almost at will. To his credit, Stevenson weathered the storm. He started adjusting to the NFL’s speed and began making more and more plays on the ball.
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Nobody will catch him by surprise this year. Tyrique Stevenson knows the defense. He is in NFL shape. The confidence is building. If he gets to play with an actual lead during games this season, it isn’t a stretch to think he will feast on turnover opportunities. Having Johnson on the other side will help. Opponents won’t want to attack him too often, which means more chances for him. It could become a legitimate issue of Pick Your Poison in Chicago. That is undoubtedly what the Bears were hoping for.
@BearDownTX — I want the Bears to succeed. But I would have no problem with AGM, Ian Cunningham running the show. Ryan Poles is “not him.” So many here have have anointed Ryan Poles, and by extension “his QB” Caleb Williams as co-saviors of the franchise. It’s possible — but please, let’s let Caleb Williams complete at least one NFL pass, first. Pace selected Trubisky over Mahomes as well as, over Deshaun Watson. So. it could have been worse — much worse!. But, do you want to go through the same pointless excercise with Poles and Williams, cast in the… Read more »
@TGena – Trying to pull off another magic trick. Hey, look at this pile of shit that I have concocted so I can distract you from my original idiotic post that said that Pace discovered more playmakers than Poles has. Once again I believe TGena is actually Ryan Pace or someone in his immediate family, that is the only reason you could stick up for that buffoon! Pace not only made one Horrendous QB trade moving up one spot, and spent a boatload of picks to do so, for Mitch Freaking Trubiski instead of some guy named Patrick Mahomes or… Read more »
@David — I’m capable of making mistakes — but I try not to be careless with the truth. In Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy’s last season with the Bears, 2021 — the team compiled a 6-11 won-lost record. Fans make a lot a of claims about the Bears financial positions, at various periods of time. And, it can be both confusing and less than up-to-date. But, by visiting spotrac.com you can easily double-check the Bears actual numbers and published league rank. NFL 2021 Cap Max: $182,500,000 — NFL Chicago Bears: 2021 Total Cap: $188,749,384 (20th) 2021 Dead Cap: $26,298,749 (16th)… Read more »
How many of Greg Gabriel’s guesses come true?
First gena you’re comparing someone that had 6 years to someone who has had only 3 drafts and the first had no first round pick. Also pace picked trubisky over Mahomes. That in itself is worthy of firing. And he needlessly traded up a spot to do so. Gordon, Brisker and Jones are 3 very good starters from a draft where he had no 1st round pick. Then Wright, Dexter, Stevenson with his top 3 picks the next year. You my not call them playmakers but I do. Not to mention the trade of the decade that netted him a… Read more »