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The Bears are emphasizing competition for left tackle, corner, and safety positions, but player performance stats suggest otherwise. Braxton Jones had a low PFF grade, and both starting safeties from last season are no longer with the team.
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While the Bears have talked a lot about adding competition to the roster, the play on the field hasnât 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 isnât coming in to competeâtheyâre coming in to start.
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Although the team has suggested Jones is still in the mix at left tackle, his 2025 season doesnât 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 â a rate well below whatâs expected from an NFL starter.
Most starting tackles grade somewhere in the mid-60s or higher. Jones didnât come close to that mark. Thereâs a difference between a player going through a bad patch and one who simply isnât 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. First-round tackles are expected to start early, and thereâs enough of a gap between Jonesâ play and what those picks usually bring that it wouldnât take long for changes to happen.
Braxton Jones posted a PFF grade of 55.5 in 2025.
Tyrique Stevenson allowed a passer rating of 93.8 last season.
Yes, if the Bears use an early draft pick at any of these positions, the expectation is that the player will start rather than compete.
Both safeties from last season are gone, indicating a need for new talent in the position.

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There have been moments in Stevensonâs game that have caught the eye, but the broader picture suggests inconsistency rather than progress. He finished the year with a 93.8 passer rating allowed and a 59.6 coverage grade, both of which placed him in the lower half of starting corners. Those numbers donât suggest a player who has nailed down his spot.
His playing time also dipped toward the end of the year as his role shifted. When teams believe theyâve found a reliable starter, they typically donât cut their snaps as the season winds downâthey do it when there are still questions to be answered.
If Chicago uses an early draft pick on a corner, Stevenson would find himself competing against someone the club has just invested heavily in. Thatâs less about adding depth and more about determining who earns the starting job.
Kevin Byard finished last season with seven interceptions and picked up an All-Pro nod. Jaquan Brisker held down the other spot, playing all 17 games. Neither player is back for 2026.
The current group includes players who are either replacement-level or unproven additions without significant starting experience. The position is widely viewed by analysts as one of the Bearsâ most pressing needs heading into the draft.
There isnât much to debate here. Chicago donât have a clear starter at safety right nowâjust a collection of optionsâand theyâll likely need to look to the draft to find their answer.
More than half of first-round picks end up as starters, and that transition tends to happen quickly for positions like left tackle and cornerback. The Bears understand how this plays out.
If Chicago uses a high pick on a left tackle, itâs unlikely heâll be sitting behind Jones. A rookie corner wouldnât come in to learn under Stevenson. And any early pick at safety would be expected to play straight away. Thatâs just how things work when teams address clear needs early in the draft.
The Bears are framing it as competition because thatâs what teams do at this time of year. But the performance data, playing time, and roster moves point to something else. The production from Jones, Stevenson, and the current safety group hasnât been strong enough to hold off new arrivals.
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