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Tyrique Stevenson’s high target rate in 2024 raises questions and highlights the pressure coming for the Bears' outside CB position

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 7:05 PM ET

A lot of changes are going to be on the way for the Chicago Bears defense with new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen leading the unit in 2025.

The spot expected to have the biggest change and most challenge is easily at cornerback based on what Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris are asking out of the players at that position.

The roles for Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are well identified. Johnson will shadow opposing #1 targets while Gordon gets used all over the field to create different looks against the offense.

As for the third cornerback spot, a lot will be asked out of role, no matter who's on the field playing on the outside.

Over the last two seasons, we've seen opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks heavily target the #2 cornerback on the outside and attempt to avoid Johnson completely whenever possible, which puts a lot of pressure on that position.

In this new scheme, that pressure will only be amplified even more with the cornerbacks playing a heavy press-man coverage instead of a soft zone approach.

To get a better idea on how that second spot was attacked last season, we finally got some numbers to show the context.

According to Pro Football Focus, Tyrique Stevenson had the fourth-highest target rate (19.10%) on all routes, the second-highest target rate (19.74%) lining up on the outside, the seventh-highest target rate (20.86%) on late downs, and the seventh-highest target rate (22.03%) in the red zone. That's among all CBs who played a minimum of 25% of coverage snaps required for each category.

Interestingly enough, each of those situations featured one, or multiple, New Orleans Saints cornerbacks as well, showing that Allen's scheme puts a lot on the table for that outside cornerback position.

Target Christian Gonzalez in the red zone at your own risk

The most targeted CBs by situation last year:https://t.co/N3wburEjiw
— PFF (@PFF) June 11, 2025

Stevenson played 16 games for the Bears and 81% of the team's defensive snaps opposite Johnson, so now the numbers back up the fact that he was heavily targeted.

In 2025, that kind of target pressure will only continue for that position, whether it's Stevenson or another player such as Zah Frazier, Terell Smith, or Nahshon Wright on the field. And with that high amount of pressure comes opportunity.

During his rookie season, Stevenson finished with a team-high four interceptions and again led the team in interceptions in 2024. But in each season, Stevenson led all Chicago cornerbacks in touchdowns allowed.

No matter who's playing the role this season, it's going to be a difficult task that gets even harder based on the new coverage scheme being implemented this summer.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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