Kevin Toliver looked like the first in line to replace Prince Amukamara when the Bears decided to cut the veteran cornerback after last season.
Toliver, signed as an undrafted free agent from LSU in 2018, started against the Cowboys in place of an injured Amukamara in Week 14 and split time with him against the Packers, Chiefs and Vikings in the final month of the season — and appeared to pass the audition.
But then the Bears took Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second round of the draft.
“Oh yeah, I was motivated a lot [by that],” said Toliver, rated one of the top 10 players in the country coming out of high school in 2015.