Every year, certain players enter make-or-break moments that could change the course of their careers. Some players respond well and make the best out of the situation, and some players struggle and are exposed. One player on the Chicago Bears in a make-or-break season is Tyrique Stevenson.
The Chicago Bears are putting Tyrique Stevenson on the hot seatÂ
Ben Solak of ESPN noted a few players entering the season on the hot seat, and he mentioned Tyrique Stevenson as one of those players.Â
"The Bears would much prefer Stevenson to play (and excel) over Muhammad. That would mean Stevenson could walk in free agency, sign a huge deal elsewhere and give Chicago a nice compensatory pick in return. But if Muhammad shines in camp, the Bears might struggle to keep him off the field while Stevenson gets targeted opposite Johnson."Benjamin Solak
As Solak mentions, Stevenson is in the last year of his contract. There is almost no way that he is returning to the Bears, even if he plays well.Â
If Stevenson performs, he will enter free agency as a young and experienced cornerback. Someone is going to pay well for that. If Stevenson does not perform, the Bears will likely have already benched him.
Solak mentions Malik Muhammad as the potential player to step in for Stevenson. That is certainly possible, but Muhammad fell in the draft because he is a bit thin, and the Bears have been giving him work in the slot. They seem to be viewing him as depth on the outside and in the slot and a future starter down the line. So, Stevenson should get the chance to start over him.
However, the real name to watch is Terell Smith. Smith was drafted in the same year as Stevenson. He showed flashes as a rookie, but when Stevenson struggled in year two, the team turned to Smith and had the duo platoon snaps.Â
Smith was supposed to be in the mix last year, but he got hurt in the summer and did not do anything. That is why Nahson Wright had to come out of nowhere, as he was not in the plans; they needed him after Smith went down.Â
So, the guy who was ahead of Wright last year could pull off the same thing that Wright did last year, and that is perform better than Stevenson. This speaks to the Bears' faith in him that there are actually two names lower on the depth chart with legitimate chances to unseat him.
If Stevenson can hold them off, it is a great sign for his earning potential. However, Chicago is not going to be tied to him, and they are not going to be afraid to bench him if the time calls for it.
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