The Chicago Bears should have plenty of options to choose from when the team selects in the first round. In this recent mock draft, the Bears upgrade the secondary.
With the Chicago Bears having the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, there should be intriguing options for general manager Ryan Poles to sift through when his team is on the clock in the first round.
The Bears, like many teams, have holes throughout the roster that will need to be filled with rookies from the class. Edge rusher, defensive tackle, offensive tackle and safety are at the top of the list to address for head coach Ben Johnson's team.
Every single one of them should be in play with the team's first-round pick.
In a recent Pro Football Focus (PFF) mock draft, the Bears received some much-needed help in the secondary. PFF has the Bears selecting Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Here is PFF's explanation for the pick.
“The highest-ranked player remaining on PFF’s big board is a sound choice for a Bears franchise that should approach this draft with a best-player-available strategy. The Toledo star ranked second among all college football safeties in PFF grade last season. He has the size and big-play ability to make an immediate impact early in his professional career.”
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety finished his senior season with 43 total tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups and one sack. Throughout his four years at Toledo, McNeil-Warren played mostly in the box (966 snaps) compared to 624 as a free safety and 204 snaps in the slot, according to PFF.
In Dane Brugler's The BEAST, here are some of McNeil-Warren's strengths and weaknesses:
STRENGTHS
- Called for just one penalty in college (1,861 career defensive snaps)
- Plays assignment sound (stays home) and understands field leverage on back-side contain
WEAKNESSES
- Overaggressive with run fits and late to course correct versus cutback runners
- Inconsistent physicality when taking on contact in the box
BEARS FIT
Right now the Bears have Coby Bryant to solidify one of the two safeties spots. Unless the Bears feel comfortable with Elijah Hicks or Cam Lewis playing opposite of Bryant, the Bears will likely draft a rookie to complete the back end of Dennis Allen's defense.
The Bears lost both their starting safeties from a season ago, and the team filled one spot in free agency by signing Bryant to a three-year, $40 million contract.
McNeil-Warren has versatility in his game, which Allen wants in his players. At the NFL’s annual league meeting, Johnson mentioned he was looking for “trained killers” on his defense. McNeil-Warren would have an opportunity to fit that label if the Bears choose to draft him with their first-round pick.