The Chicago Bears are loaded at the cornerback position. It's arguably the best position group on the entire team, with three clear-cut starters in Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon. There may be depth spots up for grabs, but the starting positions are written in stone.
The Bears are scheduled to enter training camp with nine cornerbacks on the 90-man roster. Several veterans, ascending talents, and even undrafted free agents are vying for back-end positioning. Let's assess the Chicago Bears' cornerbacks ahead of training camp.
Jaylon Johnson
Johnson signed a well-deserved four-year extension worth $76 million earlier this offseason. He's now signed in Chicago through the 2027 season. That's excellent news for the Bears after Johnson enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2023, recording four interceptions while earning Pro Football Focus' best coverage grade at 91.0.
Tyrique Stevenson
Stevenson was outstanding as a rookie, having established himself as an immediate every-down starter in Matt Eberflus' defense from Week 1 onward. It was Stevenson, not Johnson or Gordon, that was the Bears' most-snapped cornerback last season at 829 snaps (per Pro Football Reference). He allowed five or less receiving yards in three appearances, including zero versus the rival Detroit Lions in Week 11.
A massive sophomore season looms large.
Kyler Gordon
Gordon is one of the league's elite nickel corners. He completely locked down the slot last season and should do so again for new defensive coordinator Eric Washington. Gordon ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating allowed in the slot (83.6), per PFF. His consistency at that position is valuable in today's pass-happy league.
Terell Smith
Sophomore cornerback Terell Smith will be an important rotational and depth cover-man for the defense this season. Smith earned 377 defensive snaps in 2023 as the No. 4 corner, a position he should maintain throughout this training camp period. Opposing quarterbacks saw a below-average passer rating of 81.4 when targeting him in coverage last season.
Jaylon Jones
Jaylon Jones made the Bears' 2022 roster as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss. He's been a core special teamer ever since, playing a team-high 335 snaps in the third phase last season. Maintaining his role on special teams is Jones' clearest path to the 53 man roster.
Greg Stroman Jr.
Greg Stroman Jr. entered the league as a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He joined the Bears in 2022, and has been a practice squad mainstay who's signed reserves/future contracts. This year, Stroman Jr. will reunite with DC Eric Washington, who crossed paths with him in Buffalo in 2021.
Josh Blackwell
The Bears initially claimed Josh Blackwell off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He played college football at Duke, and was a backup cornerback in 2023 who missed significant time with a hamstring injury. Blackwell enters training camp firmly on the roster bubble.
Reddy Steward
Reddy Steward is an undrafted cornerback out of Troy. He was extremely productive throughout his college football career, totaling 181 career tackles, 42 pass breakups, and nine interceptions. Steward projects as a nickel cornerback at the next level due to some size deficiencies.
Leon Jones
Leon Jones is another undrafted free-agent rookie cornerback. Jones played at Arkansas State. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi native recorded 26 tackles and six passes defensed last season. He leaves the Red Wolves program with 21 PBU's and one interception in three seasons.