Nick McCloud has lined up his next NFL opportunity. The veteran corner has signed with the Bears, his agency announced on Monday. 
McCloud made a pair of appearances with the Bengals during his rookie season, but most of his 48 career games have come with the Giants. The former UDFA was in New York from 2022 to the midway point of this past campaign, one in which he was waived. McCloud made five starts in 2024, but it was clear the Giants were interested in moving on after a request to take a pay cut to the veteran minimum was turned down.
No teams put in a claim, but it did not take McCloud long to find a new home. He signed with the 49ers to close out the season, one in which the team fell short of expectations and missed the playoffs. During his eight San Francisco contests, the 26-year-old played sparingly on defense and made more of an impact on special teams. That could prove to be the case in Chicago.
The Bears have Jaylon Johnson attached to a lucrative long-term deal, while Kyler Gordon has proven to be an effective slot corner. He too could soon have an extension in place soon, creating the need for inexpensive options elsewhere on the depth chart. Chicago has Tyrique Stevenson attached to his rookie deal for two more years, and after starting 14 games last season he can be expected to handle a heavy workload moving forward.
As a result, McCloud’s path to earning a roster spot during training camp will likely consist of carving out a backup role on defense in addition to his third phase contributions. The Notre Dame product has posted only one interception and 10 pass deflections in his career, but he has logged nearly 1,200 special teams snaps to date. He will look to use that experience with the Bears in 2025.
Curious as to what the reason was for this signing. CB is the deepest position on the team and keeping a CB just for special teams would seem like a huge luxury. He’s probably 7th best with Johnson, Gordon, Stevenson, Smith, Blackwell and Speed probably ahead of him. Maybe the ultimate long shot. I was mad they let Reddy Steward go and he was at least better than Speed.
Well the Bears like those guys from Notre Dame quite a bit. Perhaps they’re operating on the theory that every McCloud has a silver lining.
I think this may mean the Bears are shopping Stevenson before the Draft.
I sincerely doubt that. Stevenson has a clean slate now. He has no black marks. Besides what would you get for him? 6th round pick? You can’t replace him for that. He’s still talented and on a rookie deal. You don’t move guys like that.
Stevenson literally cost the Bears a game with his BS last season, and this is not the only time he has cost his teams during games in his rookie and sophomore seasons with his antics. Never mind after being taken to task for what he did he played like he was pouting about it the rest of the season.
Keeping him around just smacks of ‘do whatever you want and we will let it slide’.
If someone thinks they can turn him around and offers something crazy like a 2 or 3rd rounder for him you move him in a heartbeat, though I would just drop him like a bad habit (like they should have after his antics cost him that Commanders game).
I hope I’m wrong and he somehow sees the light with a new coaching regime, but guys like that typically do not change their behavior.
Playing for Matt Eberlose and playing for Dennis Allen are two different animals. That’s not even counting Ben Johnson. A lot of it comes down to coaching. Eberlose lost the team way before the Commanders game and probably the year before. I have mixed emotions about Poles bringing him back for Caleb’s first year. But if Poles had fired Eberlose he would have hired some other guy for 5 years and we wouldn’t have Ben Johnson. So as painful as it was to watch Eberlose and Stevenson’s antics it kinda paid off in the end. Stevenson is talented but he’s young and kind of a punk. His value is way down right now and you don’t deal a guy who’s value is down. There is zero chance you get a draft pick in the 2nd and 3rd for him right now but I’m quite sure the new coaches will explain things to him in mini camp. Either he gets it or he doesn’t. Besides it’s not like they don’t have other options if he doesn’t. Smith, Blackwell are here and very competent. It’s the deepest position on the team. When his head is in the game he’s very good. He’s worth straightening out.
Have to like the picture of McCloud in a cloud
Special team depth?!