3 Bears on the Chopping Block After Ben Johnson Hiring

The Chicago Bears are in the midst of drastically changing their identity after hiring coveted Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. He's an ideal fit to develop QB Caleb Williams and he'll likely reshape the roster to maximize his schemes.

There is a lot to like about both the offense and defense, though it's obvious from the disappointing results in 2024 that upgrades are necessary in many areas. The offensive line was a mess and needs to be overhauled, but that's not the only position that'll be addressed throughout the spring and summer.

Now that Johnson's hiring is official, let's look at a handful of players who are on the chopping block with the inevitable changes coming.

1. Tyrique Stevenson, CB

It was a messy season for Tyrique Stevenson, who was originally a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His infamous mistake during the Washington Commanders' Hail Mary made him the face of one of the more embarrassing moments in recent Bears history, then repeated dust-ups with opponents defined the remainder of his campaign.

Stevenson is still a promising player who has started 30 of his 32 career games with the team. He allowed a 56.5% completion percentage and an 87.5 passer rating when targeted in coverage while notching 78 tackles, 12 deflected passes, and two interceptions.

This is a talented cornerback. If he doesn't curb his shenanigans though, Johnson could choose to make an example of him.

Stevenson still has two years left on his contract. In all likelihood, he'll be back in Chicago. It's not theoretically impossible for the Bears to trade him and he'll need to be on his best behavior either way, especially if his on-field play isn't making up for the off-field antics.

Pro Football Focus graded Stevenson as the 135th-ranked corner out of 233 qualified players. That's decent for a depth piece yet problematic for a second-round starter. Stevenson will probably remain a key member of the defense, though Johnson didn't draft him and doesn't have to display any kind of loyalty.