When it comes to the Chicago Bears secondary, fans are well aware of Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. Tyrique Stevenson has even made a name for himself, for all the wrong reasons at times. However, as Dennis Allen steps in at defensive coordinator, he wants to ensure he has strong depth at the cornerback position.
That’s where Terell Smith comes in. The former fifth-rounder will need to fight for his position on the depth chart. But with a year of experience, especially playing in Chicago, under his belt, Smith should have a leg up on the competition.
Allen likes to run an aggressive defense and will oftentimes ask his cornerbacks to press wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. That wasn’t the role the Bears necessarily had in mind when they drafted Smith. However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune explained how the cornerback still fits in Chicago’s defense.
“I think the Bears viewed Smith as more of a zone-coverage cornerback when they selected him in the fifth round out of Minnesota in 2023,” Biggs wrote. “That doesn’t mean he lacks the tools to be a press corner. He has what you want in terms of a longer frame, reach and the physical strength to aggressively challenge wide receivers at the line of scrimmage.”
“Smith measured 6-foot-0½ with 32 7/8-inch arms at the scouting combine. That doesn’t mean you want him locked in press coverage against Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, but I think he has the tools to potentially fit the scheme.”
“Don’t get carried away thinking we’re going to see nothing but in-your-face man coverage by the secondary. Allen will mix in two-deep coverages and Cover-3, but when he wants to play man, you’ll see press coverage with aggressive technique by the cornerbacks.”
Terell Smith looking to make impact
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Smith has appeared in 26 games since joining the Bears in 2023, starting six of them. He has racked up 68 tackles, 10 passes defended and an interception.
Smith’s production has fluctuated a bit through both seasons. He had 49 touchdowns as a rookie but just 19 as a sophomore, despite playing two more games. He had two less passes defended in 2024, but he also recorded his first interception. Looking beyond the box score though, Smith showed his true potential in his most recent season.
The cornerback’s 78.5 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 13/222 cornerbacks. His 78.7 run defense grade ranked 24th while his 76.5 coverage grade ranked 18th. Smith’s numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, simply due to the amount of snaps he played. However, it’s a testament of his potential whenever he sees the field.
Throughout the offseason, Smith will have an opportunity to prove himself. If he meshes well in Allen’s new system, perhaps the cornerback sees the field more often in 2025.
Chicago Bears competition
Smith won’t just be handed the keys to a larger responsibility though. Players like Zah Frazier and Nick McCloud will be vying for more of a role behind Johnson, Gordon and Stevenson.
The Bears used their fifth-round pick in 2025 on Frazier, drawing some similarities to Smith. While he was a late bloomer at UTSA, the cornerback was a dominant force in 2024. His six interceptions led all of the AAC. He will need further development at the NFL level, but Chicago is certainly tantalized by his ball hawk ability.
McCloud was signed to a one-year contract this offseason after splitting time between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in 2024. Over his entire four-year NFL career, the defensive has racked up 96 tackles, 10 passes defended and an interception. The fact McCloud has 48 games and 16 starts at the NFL gives Chicago some extra security in their secondary.
Smith has his work cut out for him as he looks to make his mark. But he at least understands now what it’s like to play in Chicago. If he proves he can play under Allen, then the cornerback could become a fixture at cornerback for the Bears.
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