The Chicago Bears had a bit of a rollercoaster performance in the 2026 NFL Draft. Their selections at the top of the draft, landing Dillon Thieneman and Logan Jones with the first two picks, made perfect sense, but then adding Sam Roush and Zavion Thomas was a bit of a head-scratcher, at least in terms of positional needs.
Fortunately for the team, GM Ryan Poles got back on track by selecting Texas' Malik Muhammad with the No. 142 pick. He might be a fourth-round pick, but it wouldn't be shocking to see the former Texas Longhorn carve a big role by the mid-point of the season.
Malik Muhammad's Arrival Should Put Bears' Secondary on Notice
With Nahshon Wright gone, the Bears had an obvious need for another cornerback. Tyrique Stevenson hasn't been as consistent as they'd like, and largely due to injuries, Jaylon Johnson had a down year. That's where Muhammad can come in handily.
While he doesn't always show his high-end speed and can be outmuscled at times, Muhammad's athleticism pops off the charts. He's admittedly better suited in zone coverage than man, which might not be the best fit for Dennis Allen's system, but he's got the acceleration and ball skills to keep up with his guy as well.
Muhammad is a tall, long-armed cornerback who demonstrated strong route anticipation skills in his final two years of college. He's disciplined -- committing just two penalties in 2025 -- and while he gave up 21 receptions, only two of those went for 12+ yards.
According to Pro Football Focus, Muhammad allowed just 8.0 yards per catch and held opposing quarterbacks to a 57.8 passer rating when targeted. That was good for an overall grade of 70.8.
Muhammad only had two interceptions last season and three in his collegiate career, so he's not necessarily much of a ball hawk. However, the Bears still have Al Harris as their defensive backs coach, and he has done an amazing job of helping young players develop stronger instincts to anticipate and snatch passes mid-air.
The Bears are extremely thin at cornerback, and they could be in trouble if Stevenson, Johnson, and Kyler Gordon don't step up after a disappointing 2025 campaign. At least on paper, if that's the case, there should be opportunities for Muhammad to climb the pecking order.
Not many teams have clear paths or high expectations for fourth-round selections in their rookie years. However, Muhammad landed in the right place at the right time, and his enticing physical tools might get him on the field early and often in the Windy City.
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