With a Day 3 trade move, the Bears selected Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round at No. 124, aiming to add depth to a secondary that needs answers.
The Bears used a Day 3 shift to land Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad, choosing him in the fourth round at No. 124 overall.
The move came after Chicago swapped picks with the Panthers, altering how the Bears would build their middle rounds.. Originally, the Bears were slated to pick at No.. 129 in the fourth round and No.. 144 in the fifth.. Through the trade, they moved up five spots in the fourth to No.. 124, then slid back in the fifth to No.. 166.
Malik Muhammad. 21. is coming off a college career where he left early for the draft and produced as a playmaking corner.. In three seasons at Texas. he recorded three interceptions. a total that may not jump off the page at first glance. but matters in context: Muhammad was used in ways that put him in positions to challenge and disrupt. and he has traits teams look for when they want more speed and agility in coverage.
The Bears’ roster context makes the selection feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity.. Chicago already has Jaylon Johnson at outside corner and Kyler Gordon lined up at nickel.. Beyond those two roles. the depth chart has more uncertainty. and Muhammad steps in as an incoming competitor who can push for snaps rather than simply add name value.
That competition will likely define Muhammad’s immediate value.. According to the Bears’ current group, he’ll line up on a young timeline alongside Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith.. Both veterans are set to be free agents after this season. which means the Bears are not only looking at who can help now—they’re also making sure the position remains stocked when contracts and roster math start to tighten.
From an analytical standpoint, the timing of this pick matters.. Mid-to-late draft additions often become either (1) rotational contributors who stabilize defensive packages or (2) developmental options who become starter-ready when the roster turns over.. Given the Bears’ existing corner structure. Muhammad fits the profile of a player who can compete for meaningful reps while the team navigates a turnover cycle at the back end of the depth chart.
There’s also a broader team-building theme at work across Chicago’s draft class so far.. The Bears have already addressed multiple needs early. selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman in Round 1. Iowa center Logan Jones in Round 2. and adding Stanford tight end Sam Roush plus LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas in Round 3.. Each of those choices points toward a front office focused on reshaping the roster with players who can contribute in defined roles.
For the Bears, a secondary upgrade can have an outsized ripple effect.. A defense that covers well forces quarterbacks into shorter reads. protects safer angles for linebackers and safeties. and limits the explosive plays that swing outcomes in close games.. Muhammad’s arrival gives Chicago another athlete to test in coverage assignments that grow in complexity as the season progresses.
At the same time. the Bears still have unanswered questions in key positions. and fans will be watching how Muhammad is used once organized team activities begin.. Will he be asked to learn a specific coverage responsibility right away. or will the coaching staff treat this as a competition for nickel and outside depth?. Either way, Chicago’s decision signals that corner depth is part of the plan—not just a hope.
As the draft continues. the Bears will be judged not only by who they selected. but by whether those picks translate into stability on defense when the schedule gets tougher.. Muhammad’s selection at No.. 124 is one piece of that larger puzzle. and if he can earn reps early. it could become a defining move for Chicago’s defensive identity going forward.
The Bears’ draft class so far includes: Round 1 (No.. 25) Oregon S Dillon Thieneman; Round 2 (No.. 57) Iowa C Logan Jones; Round 3 (No.. 69) Stanford TE Sam Roush; Round 3 (No.. 89) LSU WR Zavion Thomas; Round 4 (No.. 124) Texas CB Malik Muhammad; and selections not fully listed in the provided information for Round 5, plus picks later in Rounds 7.