Chicago Bears controversial starter put on notice by rookie after 2025 draft

The Chicago Bears went into the 2025 draft with flexibility after adding five starters in the trenches in March. As a result, the Bears selected depth pieces with their first four draft picks.

Even first-round pick Colston Loveland (who hopes to return from shoulder surgery by the start of training camp) will have a hard time beating out Cole Kmet for TE1 before Week 1.

The positive here is that the added depth will help the Bears navigate injuries when they inevitably happen during the course of a 17-game season, something Chicago has been lacking from their last few draft cycles.

Chicago Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson has the “most to lose”

Adam Jahns of The Athletic identified one rookie who has a chance to unseat a starter during training camp this summer. Jahns thinks fifth-round pick Zah Frazier could beat out cornerback Tyrique Stevenson if the new coaching staff is worried about Stevenson’s maturity in the locker room.

“If I had to rank players who had the most to lose in camp, Stevenson would top my list after everything that transpired last season,” Jahns wrote. “It will be interesting if Frazier can inject himself into the Stevenson/Smith competition.

“He already has the backing of defensive backs coach Al Harris, who texted Poles in February about Frazier and put him on the Bears’ radar. “Zah is a long corner, ran a 4.3, showed ability to take the ball away,” director of player personnel Trey Koziol said. ‘Anytime you can get bigger, longer, faster on the defensive side of the ball, it’s a win.’”

Zah Frazier can compete for a starting job this summer

At 24, Frazier is the type of pick a staff makes if they believe he can compete for playing time on the field right away.

Stevenson is the logical choice for Frazier to replace in the cornerback room. Stevenson has much to prove to new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen after what happened during and after the Bears’ loss to the Washington Commanders on the Hail Mary.

Stevenson was seen jawing with fans instead of getting ready to defend what would turn into a game-winning touchdown pass for the Commanders. Stevenson was out of position on the play, tipping the ball into the waiting hands of Washington receiver Noah Brown instead of boxing Brown out.

Crazy video I got of #Commanders vs #bears walk off pic.twitter.com/mXFkR5wOGW

— Joe Abdo (@joe_abdo) October 27, 2024

The Bears benched him at the start of their game the next week against the Arizona Cardinals.

Pro Football Focus ranked Stevenson 133rd out of 222 cornerbacks last season with a 58.9 overall grade.

Stevenson appears to be the weak link in the secondary. If Frazier can ball out this summer, the Bears could have a new cornerback to go alongside Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.

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