Bears call it competition at left tackle, corner, and safety but the stats say otherwise
Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images While the Bears have talked a lot about adding competition to the roster, the play on the field hasn’t quite matched up with those intentions. Braxton Jones posted a 55. 5 PFF grade in 2025 and ended up losing his spot in the lineup.
Tyrique Stevenson gave up a passer rating of 93. 8, and both safeties from last season are now gone. If Chicago uses an early pick at any of those positions, that player isn’t coming in to compete—they’re coming in to start.
Jones’ 55. 5 grade points to a position shift if the team uses an early draft pick Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images Although the team has suggested Jones is still in the mix at left tackle, his 2025 season doesn’t really back that up. He played just over 200 snaps, lost his starting spot early, and had ongoing problems in pass protection.
He allowed pressure about once every nine snaps – a rate well below what’s expected from an NFL starter. Most starting tackles grade somewhere in the mid-60s or higher. Jones didn’t come close to that mark.
There’s a difference between a player going through a bad patch and one who simply isn’t up to the job, and Jones fits into the latter category. If Chicago uses an early pick on a tackle, it will likely be framed as adding competition. But in reality, it would signal a shift.