Tyrique Stevenson taken in 2nd round of NFL Draft, is 1st Miami Hurricanes DB to be taken in first three rounds since Artie Burns in 2016
DB Tyrique Stevenson‘s college road led him first to Georgia, then to Miami these last two seasons as a transfer. Now? It’s on to the NFL. Stevenson heard his name called in the second round of the draft Friday night with the 56th overall pick by the Chicago Bears, and he’s got a lot of potential at the pro level after starting the last two years for the Canes.
Stevenson’s first two years at Georgia saw him start one game in 2018 and four in 2020, and he totaled 45 tackles and 10 pass breakups in those seasons. Then, after returning to his hometown, he had 43 tackles, five breakups and an interception in 2021 before adding 25 tackles, 9 pass breakups and two interceptions this past season.
He left Miami with one year of eligibility remaining.
Stevenson is the first DB to be taken in the draft since 2019 when Sheldrick Redwine went in the fourth round to the Browns (No. 119 overall) and Mike Jackson Sr. went in the fifth round (No. 158) to the Cowboys.
The last DB out of Miami to go in the first three rounds? That was Artie Burns, who was a first round pick (No. 25 overall) of the Steelers in 2016.
As for where it was expected he’d be taken heading into the NFL Draft?
At 6-0 and 198 pounds, Stevenson was ranked the No. 11 corner prospect (although teams are looking at him at safety as well) by The Beast NFL Draft Guide, and he ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds and had a 38.5″ vertical at the combine. That guide had him going in the second or third rounds – overall he was projected to be taken No. 69 overall in that ranking.
ESPN’s Matt Miller? He had slotted the Miami DB in the third round as the No. 83 pick.
His The Beast NFL Draft Guide bio reads that he is “an above-average size/speed athlete with physical toughness and brash swagger that many coaches covet as foundational traits for their man-cover defenders. He isn’t shy bumping and riding the hip of route runners, but his physical play style leaves him unbalanced mid-route and at the catch point, which will be tougher to hide from officials in the NFL. Overall, Stevenson needs to become more disciplined in coverage and versus the run, but he is a long, rangy corner with the speed and short-area athleticism to stay in phase. He is a press-man corner on the perimeter with NFL starting ability.”
