The Chicago Bears added to their defensive backfield with the selection of Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad with their first selection of Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Let’s get to know the newest cornerback on Chicago’s roster by learning about his past and where he projects to go in the future.
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MALIK MUHAMMAD (ROUND 4, PICK 124)
Position: Cornerback College: Texas (2023-25) Measurables: 6’0″, 182 pounds, 32 3/8″ arms, 9 7/8″ hands Accomplishments: Second-team All-SEC (2025) Mandatory Credit: Aaron E. Martinez/USA TODAY Network via Imagn ImagesChicago traded up four spots to land Muhammad to open Day 3, indicating a clear desire to add him to their cornerback room, and for good reason. Muhammad was Mel Kiper’s fifth-best prospect available when Day 3 opened. He has speed and man coverage skills that profile well in Dennis Allen’s system, and adding potential impact players to a premium position group is always a smart move.
MORE: Instant Analysis of the Malik Muhammad Pick
HIGHLIGHTS
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, NFL PLAYER COMP
via NFL Draft profile
STRENGTHS
Maintains field vision on every level of coverage. Above average in reading and matching the route. Decisive reading and driving from depth. Makes well-timed leaps to attack high points and break up throws. Fluid laterally and changes directions with no hitch. Good positioning to spill runs against the boundary.WEAKNESSES
A slender frame could require a move inside. Can get outmuscled from press and inside the pattern. Catching at the top of the route will lead to penalties. Lack of tackle strength shows up in the open field at times.NFL COMPARISON: Andru Phillips
From NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein:
Muhammad has good coverage talent to offset his slender frame. He can man up from press or off and is a plus pattern-matcher, staying in-phase and shadowing break points. He displays outstanding vision and adheres to his zone-cover principles, allowing him to play with ideal efficiency on all three levels. He can get outmuscled by big, strong wideouts inside the route and at the catch-point, but he doesn’t give in and usually holds his own. He does a nice job of chopping pass-catchers down in space but a lack of play strength shows up in occasional broken tackles. Muhammad has Day 2 talent and starter-level ability.
Here’s what I had to say about the Malik Muhammad selection over the weekend:
Muhammad fits the mold we’ve seen the Bears use this weekend, scoring very high on the RAS chart with an elite speed and explosion grade. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and received a 9.51 RAS score.
Muhammad had a pair of interceptions for the Longhorns last season, four passes defended, a sack, and 30 tackles. He was Dane Brugler’s CB11 in The Beast.
Cornerback wasn’t atop the list of needs for the Bears, but depth at a premium position is always smart, especially when the player is a fit in the existing scheme. Muhammad is a very Dennis Allen-friendly cornerback who projects as an eventual starter and could make an immediate impact as a rotational piece.
We saw last year with the secondary how quickly injuries can debilitate a unit, so beefing up that group can’t hurt.
RELATIVE ATHLETIC SCORE
Relative Athletic Score grades player measurements on a 0-10 scale and compares them to their contemporaries. It is a unique way to provide some of these prospects with additional depth and perspective.
Malik Muhammad is a CB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.51 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 153 out of 3075 CB from 1987 to 2026. t.co/DfKvZdLUfR pic.twitter.com/4R9V1O0ig8
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 21, 2026WHERE HE FITS
Cornerback is a premium position, and the Bears have some question marks within that group. Jaylon Johnson previously performed at an All-Pro level but dealt with a core injury last season and didn’t look 100 percent when he returned. There’s also Tyrique Stevenson, who has been a see-saw type player during his time in Chicago, and is also entering a contract year.
SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesEven if Chicago has Johnson and Stevenson penciled in as their starters on the outside and Kyler Gordon in the slot, Muhammad has a well-rounded profile that could allow him to earn meaningful snaps to open the season with his inside and outside versatility. He could eventually work his way into a starting role on the outside.
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During his time at Texas, he allowed only three touchdowns in three seasons as a primary defender and has logged 18 pass breakups.
Whether this season or next, I can see Muhammad being a name to watch on Chicago’s cornerback depth chart. If that’s the case, it’s an exciting value selection for the Bears on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
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