Chicago Bears Are Land Of Opportunity For Players From Last Two NFL Drafts

There will be no rookie holdouts or contract issues for the Chicago Bears. They have gotten the last two members of this year’s draft class — defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, both second-round picks — under contract heading toward training camp.

Ryan Poles, the Bears’ second-year general manager, is following through on his stated preference of rebuilding through the draft. He has aggressively pursued extra picks in his two drafts, and as a result has 20 players he drafted in position to play significant roles in 2023. That list doesn’t count some very interesting players signed after being undrafted, including linebacker Jack Sunburn and fullback Robert Burns.

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The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs first reported the signings of Dexter and Stevenson. Spotrac reports Dexter, the 53rd overall pick, received a four-year, $6,723,728 deal that included a bonus of about $1.9 million and a guarantee of $5,056,856. Stevenson, selected with the 56th pick, agreed to a four-year, $6,449,498 contract that comes with a bonus of about $1.7 million and a guarantee of $4,820,021.

The website Our Lads currently projects the 6-6, 312-pound Dexter as a backup to five-year veteran Justin Jones at the three-technique spot that coach Matt Eberflus considers “the engine” to his defensive scheme. Stevenson is positioned to be an immediate starter, stepping in ahead of Kindle Vildor for the spot opposite Jaylon Johnson. Poles was so sold on Stevenson that he traded up when he remained on the board.

Committing to the development of quarterback Justin Fields, Poles traded the first overall pick to Carolina for receiver D.J. Moore and four picks, including the ninth overall pick. The Bears were positioned to select University of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter but moved down one spot, selecting Tennessive tackle Darnell Wright with the 10th pick. Wright, like Stevenson, projects to begin his career as a starter.

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Our Lads’ depth chart currently shows Wright and left tackle Braxton Jones as the only offensive starters selected in the last two drafts. But at least four others, including University of Texas running back Roschon Johnson, could play significant roles.

Eberflus’ defense will be considerably younger, as was the design when Poles traded Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn before the 2022 trade deadline. Our Lads’ currently projects the Bears’ defense will include four starters and as many as eight others who were playing college football as recently as 2021.

Poles has overhauled the secondary through the draft. While veterans Eddie Jackson and Johnson remain in key roles, the mix is likely to include five or six players selected in the last two drafts. Stevenson, safety Jaquan Brisker and nickel back Kyler Gordon project as starters with cornerback Terrell Smith and safeties Elijah Hicks and Kendall Williamson competing for playing time.

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