Bears Continue to Be Linked to Rising Safety in Latest 2026 Mock Draft
The Bears are once again connected to a top safety prospect at No. 25, signaling a growing trend ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
There’s a pattern starting to form in Chicago Bears mock drafts.
Armed with the No. 25 pick in Round 1, analysts across the league are circling around the same prospect as the ideal selection for Chicago: Toleo Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
And when so many mock drafters begin to suggest the same first-round strategy, it's time to pay attention.
NFL.com's Mike Band was the most recent to send the hard-hitting third-level defender to the Bears.
"With Kevin Byard (New England) and Jaquan Brisker (Pittsburgh) both gone in free agency, McNeil-Warren should entice the Bears as a long, rangy safety with true ball-hawking ability and the versatility to function as an apex defender," Band wrote. "He fits the profile Chicago appears to value in this cycle: a tone-setter who can play through contact, erase space on the back end, and take the ball away from multiple alignments."
Why Safety Keeps Coming Up for the Chciago Bears
You don’t have to dig too deep to understand why the Chicago Bears are expected to be in the first-round market for a starting safety.
As Band noted, the losses of Byard and Brisker will have a significant ripple effect on Dennis Allen's defense. Chicago lost more than just production. They lost leadership and locker-room culture.
The Bears addressed part of that by signing Coby Bryant in free agency, but the position still feels incomplete.
That’s where a first-round safety starts to make sense.
McNeil-Warren’s Profile Matches What Chicago Needs
What stands out with McNeil-Warren isn’t just one trait. Instead, it’s how his skill set fits the modern safety role.
He has range, plays with physicality, and has fantastic ball skills.
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In many ways, he combines the best traits of Byard and Brisker into one player.
When combined with Bryant, McNeil-Warren could be a lethal weapon in the Bears' secondary.
This Isn’t Just a One-Off Projection for the Bears
When a player keeps showing up in mocks to the same team, it usually means something.
It doesn’t guarantee anything on draft night, but it does suggest alignment between:
- Team needs
- Draft value
- Player archetype
McNeil-Warren checks all three for Chicago.
He’s widely viewed as one of the top safeties in the class, and the drop-off at the position after the early tier is noticeable. If the Bears want a long-term answer at safety, Round 1 is where that conversation likely happens.
How This Fits the Bigger 2026 Draft Picture for the Chicago Bears
The Bears don’t have one glaring need that forces their hand, and that’s a good place to be.
Ryan Poles can let the board come to him, and if that board presents a top-tier safety at No. 25, it’s a logical move.
Edge rusher and offensive line will still be in play, but safety is one of the few spots where Chicago could land both value and immediate impact in the same pick.
The Bears' Bottom Line
Poles won't chase a safety in the first round. The right prospect has to fall to him, especially since safety isn't usually viewed as a position with first-round value.
But McNeil-Warren’s name keeps coming up for a reason. The fit makes sense. The talent sense. And the way the board is shaping up, the value might be there, too.
If this trend continues over the next few weeks, it may not be much of a surprise if it carries over into draft night.
