Prominent rookie cornerback Reddy Steward is departing from the Chicago Bears to join the Minnesota Vikings as he enters his second NFL offseason in 2025.
NFL insider Aaron Wilson reports that Steward has chosen to sign a reserve/future contract with the Vikings for the 2025 NFL offseason following the expiration of his practice-squad deal with the Bears on January 13. Wilson mentioned that “many teams” sought him during his brief stint in free agency; however, it’s uncertain whether the Bears extended an offer to him.
Most probably, Steward — who caught two interceptions in the 2024 preseason — chose to explore the free-agent market after he participated in only 18 defensive snaps in a single game during his rookie year with the Bears. In 2025, Chicago will bring back most of its cornerback talent from last year’s roster, restricting his chances to secure a significant role.
Opportunities are somewhat broader for Steward in Minnesota. The Vikings are set to have four of their top six defensive backs — which includes cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr., Shaq Griffin, and Stephon Gilmore — hitting free agency in March. Even if they extend Murphy’s contract, a 2024 Pro Bowler, there will still be ample competition for the role.
Regrettably, Steward’s exit leaves the Bears with one fewer promising young player to keep developing throughout the 2025 season. They will have straightforward chances to re-sign Josh Blackwell (restricted free agent), Jaylon Jones (restricted free agent), and Ameer Speed (exclusive rights free agent) for depth, but Steward also showed promise.
The unrestricted free agency and league year for 2025 will commence at 4 p.m. ET on March 12th.
Reddy Steward Excelled in Initial Preseason for Bears
Steward will now attempt to succeed in another NFC North location, but it is somewhat unexpected to see him leave given his strong performance for the Bears in the last preseason.
Steward made a strong impression early in his initial NFL training camp, temporarily taking the nickel cornerback role with the first-team defense when starter Kyler Gordon was sidelined due to an injury. He also took full advantage of his limited opportunities in the preseason, participating in all four exhibition games and ending on a high note with a two-interception performance versus Kansas City.
In the end, the Bears excluded him from their initial 53-man roster, but they quickly brought him back onto the practice squad for additional development. They subsequently promoted him to their game-day roster for the Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, where he recorded one tackle and one forced fumble over 18 defensive snaps in the 29-9 defeat.
The Bears might believe there is excessive uncertainty regarding their coaching staff for 2025 to rehire Steward. Ultimately, they dismissed head coach Matt Eberflus — the architect of their defense — and may alter their schemes depending on the person they hire for 2025. Nevertheless, the Bears must wish they didn’t lose a concealed treasure in Steward.
Will the Bears Acquire Another Cornerback in the 2025 Offseason?
The Bears will enter the 2025 offseason with cornerback as one of their roster requirements. Though the role will provide two definitive starters in Gordon and two-time Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson’s performance noticeably dropped in his second season on the boundary in 2024. Many of the Bears’ substitutes will also enter free agency in March.
Keeping this in mind, the Bears might consider adding another experienced cornerback to strengthen their cornerback lineup for the 2025 season. Stevenson is far from hopeless — particularly if the new coaching staff finds more effective methods to connect with and instruct him — but Chicago should consider adding an experienced competitor to challenge him for his position.
As an alternative, the Bears might pursue a different cornerback in the 2025 NFL draft. They are expected to focus on filling more pressing needs with their initial three selections — Nos. 10, 39, and 41 — but they might realistically begin to consider a cornerback as early as their No. 72 selection in the third round if a player ranked highly on their draft boards remains available.
The extent to which the Bears pursue the cornerback position may hinge on their ability to secure a contract extension for Gordon, who is now eligible. Gordon has a year remaining on his rookie deal, but the 2022 second-round choice has emerged as one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL, which will probably increase his price in 2025, prompting the Bears to act quickly on a new contract.
Should they sign him, the Bears may ease up on their cornerback expenditures. If they are unable to negotiate a new agreement with Gordon, they might seek additional leverage.
