The Chicago Bears have been among the hardest teams to pin down on their intentions for the 2026 draft. Insiders close to the team have signaled they wish to move down from the 25th pick, not liking the value of their options at that spot. Failing that, they appear to have shifted their focus from the defensive line to offensive tackles. However, the draft is unpredictable. There is a likelihood we’ll see runs at both positions earlier in the draft. So what will the Bears do if that happens? Insider Matt Lombardo reached out to contacts around the league to find out. The name he came away with was Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
For those who don’t know, he is the standout safety from Toledo, making waves in the scouting community thanks to his mix of great size, hitting power, and uncanny nose for the football. He’s drawn comparisons to guys like Derwin James, Justin Reid, and Talanoa Hufanga. Many believe he has a bright future as an enforcer on the back end of any defense. It appears plenty in and around the league feel the Bears are his likely landing spot.
However, I do try to make these mock drafts each year a bit more informative thanks to the insight gleaned from conversations with agents who have their ear to the ground and front office executives who will be making the calls, or at least trying to persuade their general manager which direction to go, come Thursday night…
…25. Chicago Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Chicago Bears’ safety room went through a major transformation this offseason, losing veterans Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson via free agency.
While Coby Bryant’s arrival has the potential to be one of the more impactful additions league-wide, general manager Ryan Poles’ work is far from done at this pivotal position of need.
McNeil-Warren is a physical presence who isn’t afraid to levey a big hit to send a message to a receiver over the middle of the field, or doll out a crushing blow against a running back up near the line of scrimmage against the run, precisely the kind of tone-setter that the Bears’ defense has lacked in recent memory.
The Bears would be taking a big risk with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Rest assured, the logic makes sense. Chicago lost both starting safeties to free agency this year. Kevin Byard left for New England and Jaquan Brisker left for Pittsburgh. C.J. Gardner-Johnson also didn’t return. The only big addition they’ve made is Coby Bryant. That is one starting spot addressed and one unaccounted for. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes his safeties to be interchangeable. They must be able to move up to the line of scrimmage to play the run while retaining range and coverage instincts. McNeil-Warren checks those boxes.
The problem is that taking a safety in the 1st round is a major gamble in today’s NFL. For every Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James, you get a large contingent of busts and disappointments. Since 2010, there have been 26 safeties selected in the 1st round. Only 10 of them lasted five or more seasons with the team that drafted them. Only one player, taken 25th or later, made the Pro Bowl.
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| Year | Player | Team | Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Malaki Starks | Baltimore Ravens | 27 |
| 2024 | None Selected | — | — |
| 2023 | None Selected | — | — |
| 2022 | Kyle Hamilton | Baltimore Ravens | 14 |
| Daxton Hill | Cincinnati Bengals | 31 | |
| Lewis Cine | Minnesota Vikings | 32 | |
| 2021 | None Selected | — | — |
| 2020 | None Selected | — | — |
| 2019 | Darnell Savage | Green Bay Packers | 21 |
| Johnathan Abram | Oakland Raiders | 27 | |
| 2018 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Miami Dolphins | 11 |
| Derwin James | Los Angeles Chargers | 17 | |
| Terrell Edmunds | Pittsburgh Steelers | 28 | |
| 2017 | Jamal Adams | New York Jets | 6 |
| Malik Hooker | Indianapolis Colts | 15 | |
| Jabrill Peppers | Cleveland Browns | 25 | |
| 2016 | Karl Joseph | Oakland Raiders | 14 |
| Keanu Neal | Atlanta Falcons | 17 | |
| 2015 | Damarious Randall | Green Bay Packers | 30 |
| 2014 | Calvin Pryor | New York Jets | 18 |
| Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | Green Bay Packers | 21 | |
| Deone Bucannon | Arizona Cardinals | 27 | |
| Jimmie Ward | San Francisco 49ers | 30 | |
| 2013 | Kenny Vaccaro | New Orleans Saints | 15 |
| Eric Reid | San Francisco 49ers | 18 | |
| Matt Elam | Baltimore Ravens | 32 | |
| 2012 | Mark Barron | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 |
| Harrison Smith | Minnesota Vikings | 29 | |
| 2011 | None Selected | — | — |
| 2010 | Eric Berry | Kansas City Chiefs | 5 |
| Earl Thomas | Seattle Seahawks | 14 |
McNeil-Warren is a risk, but a calculated one.
Safeties taken in the bottom half of the 1st round have a poor track record. That said, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has the tools to overcome that stigma. He’s big, athletic, and has some of the best instincts in the class. I’ve said multiple times that he is Charles Tillman in the body of a safety. That is how good he is at forcing turnovers. A pair of him and Bryant would arguably be the most talented safety combination this team has fielded since Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos in 2018.
The Bears could then turn back around in the 2nd round to address the defensive line concerns. It isn’t a terrible plan. They just need to be sure they have a plan for McNeil-Warren. Scouting safeties is incredibly difficult. The best players at the position are essentially hybrids. They must have the range of a corner, the tackling of a linebacker, and the head of a quarterback. Those are not easy to find. McNeil-Warren seems to have those tools. If the Bears think he is the real deal, then the pick makes sense.
