Bears Redeem Themselves With Strong 4th Round Move To Get Malik Muhammad
After failing to help the defense at all on day two, it’s clear the Chicago Bears felt a sense of urgency to change that on the final day of the 2026 draft. General manager Ryan Poles did something he doesn’t do very often. He traded up from the 129th overall pick to #124 in a deal with the Carolina Panthers. There, the Bears grabbed Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad. Make no mistake. This was a strong move for Chicago. Muhammad is a long, athletic player with plenty of physicality you wouldn’t expect from somebody who is 182 lbs.
This move isn’t a surprise. The Bears have serious question marks at cornerback. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon were haunted by injuries last year. Tyrique Stevenson is in the last year of his rookie contract. Terell Smith is coming off a torn ACL. Zah Frazier didn’t practice or play all year. They needed some insurance at that position. Muhammad provides that. He should be an immediate contributor as a rotational backup who has more than enough talent to compete for a starting job.
Malik Muhammad is a classic Al Harris guy.
We know the Bears’ defensive backs coach has a certain prototype he looks for in his corners. He likes them tall, long, and athletic. We saw that during his time in Dallas and again last year when they drafted Frazier and signed Nahshon Wright. Muhammad is built the same way but has a nastier disposition. He isn’t afraid to stick his nose in on tackles and looks to deliver hits. Yet what sets him apart is his vision. Muhammad has a great feel for where the ball is going and makes quick breaks on the ball. Couple that with the fluidity and speed to match receivers on their routes, and you start to understand the appeal.
He had his best season in 2025 with two interceptions, a sack, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and 30 tackles. His ability to attack the backfield is something defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will love taking advantage of. The trick for the Bears will be seeing if they can put some weight on his frame. Slender players like him are more susceptible to injuries in the NFL. That is likely part of why he slipped to the 4th round. That won’t bother Harris. He’s dealt with such a challenge before.
The Bears remain unafraid of competition.
Some teams would’ve looked at their depth chart and said, “Let’s see if it is better this year with some good health.” The Bears looked at it and said, “Not good enough.” Adding competition has been the theme of this draft. It started with Logan Jones in the 2nd round, and continued with Sam Roush and Zavion Thomas in the 3rd. None of those position groups were top needs going into this draft. Poles and head coach Ben Johnson didn’t care. They saw good football players. That is all that mattered.
It is the same Malik Muhammad. He is a good football player and a great fit for this defense. The Bears will throw him into the mix this summer in training camp and see how others respond. The best players will climb their way to the top. If this kid is as competitive as he seems, it won’t take long for him to get on the field. In a division loaded with receiving talent, there is no such thing as too many good cornerbacks.