The Chicago Bears landed a potential steal on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft with the selection of Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad with the 124th overall pick, adding a speedy, instinctual defensive back to Dennis Allen's secondary.
The Bears add even more speed to Dennis Allen's defense after drafting safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round and adding safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush in free agency. Muhammad ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he's a competitive and physical addition to the secondary.
Last season with the Longhorns, Muhammad totaled two interceptions and two pass breakups and allowed 21 catches on 35 targets for 168 yards and one touchdown. While Jaylon Johnson has a starting spot locked down on the outside, Muhammad has the opportunity to compete for the starting spot opposite him with Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith.
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den Berg1 / 7Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)1 / 7Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)2 / 7Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones3 / 7Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush4 / 7Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas5 / 7Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad6 / 7Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott7 / 7Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den BergHere's what some expert draft analysts had to say about Muhammad during the pre-draft process and what Bears fans can expect to see:
"A starter for two-and-a-half years at Texas, Muhammad was an outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s zone-leaning scheme. Coming from a family of defensive backs, he took his talents to Austin, where he saw immediate action as a true freshman. He gave up his share of completions in 2025, but he also limited big plays (allowed only two catches of 12-plus yards) and earned All-SEC honors.
Muhammad is a tall, skinny athlete with quality coverage-match talent. He doesn’t consistently play up to his timed speed, but he does show lateral agility and strain to stay attached to routes. He has athletic ball skills (looked outstanding during the gauntlet drill at the NFL combine), although I wish he took more chances to create turnovers. He is tough versus the run, although not always consistent."
"Muhammad has good coverage talent to offset his slender frame. He can man up from press or off and is a plus pattern-matcher, staying in-phase and shadowing break points. He displays outstanding vision and adheres to his zone-cover principles, allowing him to play with ideal efficiency on all three levels. He can get outmuscled by big, strong wideouts inside the route and at the catch-point, but he doesn’t give in and usually holds his own. He does a nice job of chopping pass-catchers down in space but a lack of play strength shows up in occasional broken tackles. Muhammad has Day 2 talent and starter-level ability."
"Muhammad is a decorated cornerback from one of the nation's best secondaries, and his size and pedigree point to starting potential at the next level, particularly in a zone-oriented scheme. He earned PFF grades of 78.5 in 2023, 71.7 in 2024 and 70.8 in 2025. His lighter frame and limited disruptiveness remain concerns and may factor into evaluations despite the overall profile."
"Muhammad’s statistical production isn’t eye-popping, but he’s an instinctive and quick corner with good length. He shows a good feel for route combinations, passes off receivers, and rarely gets caught out of position in zone looks. He closes quickly, breaking on passes thrown in front of him. He doesn’t guard grass and doesn’t stay connected to a receiver when the ball is in the air. He reads receivers, gets his eyes on the quarterback, and quickly triggers in off coverage. He tied for the quickest 10-yard split among cornerbacks at the combine.
He has the frame and length to compete with bigger receivers in 50-50 situations. He can deflect passes without going through the back of the receiver. He mirrors the receiver’s release, uses the correct hands to widen receivers, and stays in phase early as a press corner. He runs well enough to stay in phase, but he can be beaten over the top when he doesn’t win at the line of scrimmage. He has a tendency to bite on double moves and often doesn’t recover well. He’s physical and tough, but he’s lean and can get pushed around at the top of routes. He intercepted three passes in 41 career games and doesn’t pluck the ball like a receiver. He gets stuck on blocks and gives up ground, but he’s quick to trigger in run support, and he’s willing to stick his face in the fan as a tackler."
Uses elite short-area footwork to mirror receivers movements in man coverage.
Athletic ability shows up in his smooth backpedal and hip-sink to decelerate.
His speed translates downhill against ball carriers and receivers as well as turning and running.
Muhammad does a great job passing off route responsibilities in zone coverage.
A willing run-defender who wants to be a physical player and deliver momentum-altering hits.
Muhammad has room to add weight, which can help physically shed blocks in the run game and bring down bigger ball carriers.
Start using more single hand-jam technique to not lock his hips in press coverage.
Tends to bite on route movements quickly and is susceptible to double-moves and route nuance.
"Malik Muhammad is a lanky corner with significant play strength issues that might need a year or two of physical development before he’s ready to see the field in the NFL. That’s not a well-traveled path for a top 100 pick to trek in the league! Muhammad is a really twitchy athlete with the ideal movement ability and length for this position, but I don’t think his raw talent will matter until he gets stronger and learns to play with better technique to compensate for his frame.
In almost every game this season, Muhammad is physically tossed around by blockers in the run game and receivers at the line of scrimmage and at the top of their routes. He’s competitive and tries hard, but he is blasted at the point of contact all the time. There is no mass, no leverage, no play strength and no take-on skills to keep him from getting taken to the cleaners. It’s a bloodbath right now.