Could Malik Muhammad Replace Tyrique Stevenson With a Good Training Camp?

The Chicago Bears drafted cornerback Malik Muhammad out of Texas in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Muhammad spent two and a half years at the outside corner position while also playing some nickel with the Longhorns. Muhammad gave up some completions in 2025, but he did a good job limiting big plays.

The corner back only allowed two catches of 12 plus yards. Muhammad also earned all All-SEC honors. He finished this past season with 30 tackles, 5 for loss, two interceptions, and four passes defended.

The question is, can Muhammad supplant Tyrique Stevenson for the starting job with a strong training camp? Stevenson enters camp with the edge in experience, Muhammad’s skill set could make this competition closer than many expect. On what-malik-muhammad-could-bring-to-the-chicago-bearspaper, Stevenson looks like the safer option.

He brings NFL experience and good physicality. His strength at the line of scrimmage allows him to disrupt receivers early in routes, and his willingness in run support makes him a reliable presence on early downs. However, Stevenson has struggled to play well consistently on a week-to-week basis.  

Malik Muhammad vs Tyrique Stevenson

Muhammad played outside corner at Texas, which is why he's perfect to push Stenson in training camp. He can play man coverage, but his strength is in zone coverage. Muhammad shows strong eye discipline and route recognition, especially in zone, where he reads quarterbacks and anticipates throws.

His best work often came when he could read the quarterback and react. Versatility is critical in today's NFL. Offenses constantly try to create mismatches, forcing defenses to adjust on the fly. 

Muhammad's ability to slide inside, play outside, or handle different assignments gives the Bears more flexibility in deploying their secondary. Where Muhammad immediately stands out is in coverage. He’s a smoother, more fluid athlete, capable of mirroring receivers with less wasted movement. Against quicker, more dynamic wideouts, that ability becomes critical.

While Stevenson can sometimes struggle to maintain leverage downfield, Muhammad’s change-of-direction skills allow him to stay in phase and recover when initially beaten. That difference could become especially noticeable in one-on-one drills and preseason action—areas where young corners often make their strongest impressions. 

Ability

Muhammad ran 4.42 at the NFL Combine. The cornerback has good plant-and-go quickness for quick redirects. He closes quickly on underneath routes and recovers well. For a Bears defense that has struggled at times with explosive plays, that's a major addition. Muhammad may not rack up interceptions right away, but he can limit chunk yardage and force offenses to work methodically down the field. He is beaten and rarely allows receivers to get behind him cleanly.  

Muhammad possesses a high football IQ; he is advanced in route recognition and strong in coverage communication. That gives him a high floor as a contributor, even if his ceiling is still developing. Early in his NFL career, that could translate into snaps in sub-packages, on special teams, and in rotational roles—with the potential to grow into a full-time starter. and has a good feel for spacing in zone. Muhammad barely blows coverage assignments. 

Experience remains a significant factor. Stevenson has a better grasp of NFL route concepts, communication responsibilities, and overall defensive structure. He’s less likely to blow assignments, which is something coaches value heavily—especially early in the season. Muhammad, like most young defensive backs, will need to prove he can handle the mental side of the game just as well as the physical. 

Improvements for Muhammad

There are things Muhammad will need to work on to reach his full potential in the NFL. will need to improve in a few key areas. His lean frame can be challenged by bigger NFL receivers, and his ball production at Texas suggests he still has room to grow as a playmaker. There is a clear gap in physicality for Stevenson over Muhammad. Stevenson is the stronger, more reliable run defender and a more consistent tackler in space. Muhammad is willing, but he doesn’t yet bring the same level of strength at the point of attack. That difference could keep Stevenson on the field in certain packages, even if Muhammad earns more coverage snaps. Muhammad will need to add strength to overtake Stevenson.

Final Thoughts

For Muhammad to win the job outright, he’ll need to clearly outperform Stevenson—not just match him. That means stacking plays in practice, generating turnovers in preseason games, and showing he can execute the full defensive playbook without costly mistakes. The more realistic scenario? Muhammad forces his way into a rotational role early, then gradually earns a larger share of snaps as the season progresses.