Bears Reportedly Inquire About Slot Cornerback

Bears GM Ryan Poles is apparently not content with focusing on edge rush help for the team with training camp approaching.

According to a report by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars "...are among teams that have inquired..." about free agent cornerback Arthur Maulet.

The inquiry makes sense because the Bears could always use depth at slot cornerback and Maulet has been playing almost exclusively in the slot. He has lined up there for 963 plays according to Pro Football Focus stats, and for 122 in the box in general. He has been outside 399 plays but only 33 since 2019.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback was released in May by the Steelers but it wasn't due to performance. He had asked out of his contract.

An undrafted free agent out of Memphis, Maulet has been in the league since signing with the Saints in 2017 after the draft. He spent the last two seasons with the steelers and started two games in 2021 and six last year while playing in all 33 games.

Last season he allowed 61.5% completions when targeted but gave up three touchdowns and had a 105.5 passer rating against.

For his career, Maulet has 183 tackles, a fumble recovery and three interceptions, one of them last year.

The Bears lined up Kyler Gordon at slot cornerback last year in their nickel defense and then moved him to the outside in the base defense at left cornerback. Now they have Tyrique Stevenson and it appears they could play the rookie second-rounder at left cornerback when Gordon is in the slot. Kindle Vildor did it most of last year with Gordon in the slot.

Undrafted free agent acquisition Josh Blackwell is the backup to Gordon in the slot.

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