Bears Starter on the Hot Seat Following 2026 NFL Draft
Chicago’s selection of Texas standout Malik Muhammad adds immediate pressure to Tyrique Stevenson. With elite athletic traits, the fourth-round steal could challenge for a starting cornerback role.
The Chicago Bears have had a relatively quiet offseason. They addressed many of their needs in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. Even before any of that, they had to find a replacement for Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman , who announced his shocking retirement.
Chicago signed center Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots, but still needed reinforcements at safety and linebacker. The Bears saw Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker depart in free agency and released Tremaine Edmunds to free up cap space. General Manager Ryan Poles added Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant and Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush, who will start for the Bears in 2026.
In the draft, the Bears added Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, Iowa center Logan Jones, Stanford tight end Sam Roush, LSU receiver Zavion Thomas, Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad, Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan Van Den Berg. It may not seem like it, but these moves were made with the future in mind. Thieneman is going to start alongside Bryant at safety, with Jones as an option at center once the team moves on from Bradbury.
Roush is in a similar position; he could be used in a 12 or 13-man personnel, but with Cole Kmet's contract running out in 2028, he could be the next man up at tight end. Muhammad added much-needed depth at corner after the Bears had Nahshon Wright and C. J.