Analyzing the Bears Defensive Backs, Post-Hibernation

With the Chicago Bears mandatory minicamp completed and training camp right around the corner, it’s time to start familiarizing yourself with the team's roster. This year, I’ve chosen to break this down as individual articles and podcasts for each position group. Look out for two positional previews per week, paired with podcast episodes from Bears On Tap available on Apple , Spotify , and live-streamed on YouTube !

• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Offensive Line
• Quarterback
• Defensive Tackle
• Defensive Ends
• Linebackers

Chicago Bears Defensive Backs

Jaylon Johnson

Last season, Jaylon Johnson was the NFL's highest-graded cornerback , per PFF. He was the only full-time corner league-wide to limit opponents below eight yards per catch, as he only allowed 195 receiving yards across 14 games played. In his career, when healthy, he’s been one of the better cornerbacks in the league. Health has been the concern, though. Most notably, the recurring shoulder injury he has dealt with since college.

I expect Johnson to see more targets in his direction in 2024. Last season, NFL teams consistently tested Tyrique Stevenson. Late in the season, Stevenson started to make them pay for it. If he continues to make them pay, Johnson will see more footballs thrown his way. While I’m confident that Johnson can handle that increased volume, I just hope it doesn't lead to more nagging injuries like the ones that have impacted his play in the past.

Tyrique Stevenson

It felt like Tyrique Stevenson hit his stride down the stretch last season. Over the final eight games, he looked confident in what he saw in front of him, understood his checks and reads to react the right way, and attacked the football. Over the final eight games, Stevenson posted the 14th-best PFF grade in the league (80; minimum 100 coverage snaps), four interceptions, and a completion percentage allowed of just 52.6%.

There’s a notable difference in stats from the first half to the second half. Through the first half of the season, he was picked on by opposing passers, and who could blame them?

Tyrique Stevenson Rookie Year

PFF

Stevenson fits the long, athletic mold that the Bears covet at the cornerback position. His top-end speed isn’t out of this world, but he’s an explosive gamer who plays a physical brand of football. The Bears ask a lot of their cornerbacks in run support, and Stevenson has shown a willingness to stick his hat into contact. Between that and the impressive coverage instincts we saw down the stretch in 2023, the future looks bright for Stevenson. If he can limit the yards allowed on big plays, he could be in for a fun sophomore season.

Kyler Gordon

Kyler Gordon had an up-and-down season in 2023 with plenty of flashes to get excited about. He moved inside to the nickel spot full time, with a natural knack for the role. Although he did still take some lumps, he showed tremendous improvement from his rookie year.

In the nickel role, Gordon has to be able to fit the run like a linebacker would. It’s an often overlooked aspect of playing nickel but important for any defensive scheme. Gordon does an outstanding job of getting downhill like a maniac against the run and using his freakish flexibility to get through weird angles to the football. As a blitzer, Gordon has shown an understanding of pass protection rules and how to manipulate them.

While he’s still learning the intricacies of playing coverage in the nickel spot, Gordon shows the ideal two-way athleticism, body control, and flexibility to excel at the position. While his top-end speed might not be that of some of the premiere corners in the league, it’s enough for the nickel.

Last season, Gordon ranked 13th in yards per coverage snap from the nickel. I expect him to become one of the best nickel defenders in the league in 2024, which I think is a fair expectation considering his experience and draft position as a nickel defender.

Kevin Byard

The Bears signed Kevin Byard to a two-year, $15 million contract as soon as they could this offseason. Byard should be an upgrade from Eddie Jackson, who seemed a step late a few too many times in 2023. At 31 years old, Byard could enter similar territory quickly. It’s always hard to tell at a position where mental acuity can make up for so much.

Byard is an eight-year NFL veteran with PFF grades above 70 in six of eight seasons. He’s played over 1,000 snaps each of the past seven seasons and has generated 28 career interceptions. Byard is a ball-hawking center fielder with a knack for finding the football.

On tape, his instincts appear to cover for any athleticism he has lost over the years. Byard is the type of player who’s seen it all and experienced extreme personal success in this league as a two-time first-team All-Pro. He should fit like a glove into this defense, as long as his age doesn't catch up with him.

Jaquan Brisker

Jaquan Brisker is a fun, loud, eccentric player who will find reasons to get excited. He hits hard, talks smack, and annoys the life out of opponents. The Bears preferred to use Brisker in shallow zones to the hook and flat zones in their zone coverages last year. He’ll likely continue to do that while being asked to charge hard downhill against the run and limit YAC opportunities for opponents with his sure tackling and hard-hitting.

I’m not sure that asking Brisker to play a center-field role would be wise. He doesn't have the most natural feel for space and timing on the back end, making him more valuable as a chess piece that can moved around and uses in a variety of ways. Jonathan Owens was signed to be a backup to both safety spots, partially to prevent using Brisker as a deep safety and partially to prevent Elijah Hicks from starting in the event of an injury.

Other Defensive Backs

The Bears cornerback room also features solid depth. First off the bench is second-year fifth-round pick Terell Smith, who showed some quality upside as a rookie but is a bit of a tweener athletically. Behind him, the Bears feature Greg Stroman Jr., Jaylon Jones, and Josh Blackwell. All three have spent time with the team over the last three years and flashed occasionally. But all three should be treated as end-of-the-roster type players until proven otherwise.

At safety, the Bears signed Jonathan Owens to back up both safety spots. Owens started for the Packers in 2023 and provides quality depth if either safety goes down. Behind him, the Bears have former seventh-round pick Elijah Hicks and former UDFA Quindell Johnson . Hicks is a quality special teams contributor but shouldn't be counted on for much else. Johnson has only played 35 NFL snaps but was used as a jack-of-all-trades type player in college.

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