The Chicago Bears decided to forego a major trade move when the offseason opened after a surge of rumors. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson want to keep their draft current to continue building up the roster with young talent. They have a strong belief in their ability to develop players. Besides, the Bears have done lots of self-scouting and recognize they are not one player away from chasing a Super Bowl title. They must be realistic about their goals. It starts with figuring out what to do in the 1st round of the upcoming 2026 draft. New assistant general manager Jeff King may have just teased what that could be.
Brad Biggs revealed on Wednesday that there is a strong likelihood the Bears will focus on defense with the 25th overall pick. What isn’t certain is which position they’ll target. Most believe it will be a defensive lineman, either an interior tackle or edge rusher. However, recent comments from King suggest it could go a different direction. He was asked on the Bears, etc. Podcast with Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer: What position he feels has gained the most importance in terms of responsibilities, similar to the tight end position, in recent years?
His answer might surprise you: safety.
Jeff King shined a light on the Bears’ likely 1st round approach.
Let’s look at the facts. Both of their starting safeties from last year were allowed to leave in free agency. Kevin Byard went to New England, and Jaquan Brisker left for Pittsburgh. C.J. Gardner-Johnson also left for Buffalo. The only major addition was Coby Bryant, an ascending talent fresh off a championship run in Seattle. The reason given for this shift was Bryant’s greater speed and versatility. He can flip between free safety and strong safety as needed. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers players of that capability. Since then, the Bears have not added another starter.
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That sends a clear signal that the team is planning to hit the position early in the draft. Now you can start following the breadcrumbs. Recently, three prominent Bears insiders released their latest mock drafts. Biggs, Adam Hoge, and Adam Jahns all targeted the same position. Yep, safety. The timing of this, along with King’s comments, makes it hard to ignore. There is a growing likelihood the Bears may target a safety at #25 overall, marking the first time in 36 years the team has taken one in the 1st round.
The Bears are picking the perfect year to do this.
The general consensus is that the 2026 safety class is one of the strongest in recent memory. Three players are expected to go in the 1st round alone: Caleb Downs of Ohio State, Dillon Thieneman of Oregon, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren of Toledo. While Downs will likely go in the top 15, there is a possibility that Thieneman or McNeil-Warren could be available to the Bears at #25. Both exhibit the traits Jeff King was talking about. They have the size and athleticism to play most safety roles in coverage or at the line of scrimmage, giving their defensive coordinator greater versatility.
Defensive line remains a priority for the team. That hasn’t changed. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there will likely be a big run on those positions in the first 15-20 picks. There always is. Most of the players the Bears may wish to land won’t be available. At that point, they must be realistic. Would they prefer to take the fifth or sixth-best defensive line option on the board or the second or third-best safety? It sounds like they are leaning towards the latter.
