There are a lot of things that can go perfectly right for the Chicago Bears in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there are definitely things that can go south in a hurry.
The Bears have to make sure they take care of the defensive side of the ball, with most of their early draft picks going there, as they hope nothing will stand in their way. Bleacher Report writer Alex Ballentine shared a dream draft scenario for each NFL team, focusing on a potential risk the Bears would take.
"Enough teams buy into the concerns that Peter Woods isn't going to be a difference-maker that he's still around when the Bears get on the clock at 25. Getting their pick between safeties Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Dillon Thieneman would be dream-adjacent."
Bears' dream draft scenario would be great, but is it too risky?
No Bears fans would complain about Woods being the pick for the team, as defensive tackle is a big need, and he can stop the run well. It might lead to the question of whether there are too many concerns about what kind of player Woods can be, so the Bears should consider another option.
Remember, Bears general manager Ryan Poles has been preaching that they are not going to reach on a player. Poles is all about drafting the best player available, so would Woods truly be the best player available at that point in the draft?
Chicago is already deep at defensive tackles as they signed three in free agency, which leaves the safety position as arguably the biggest concern on the team. The Bears at least have Coby Bryant, but they don't have another starting safety they could trust.
McNeil-Warren and Thieneman are both hard-hitting, play-making safeties that would instantly become starters in that secondary. They are both ready to be Day 1 starters and might even be able to be used the way the Baltimore Ravens use Kyle Hamilton as a hybrid linebacker and safety position.
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Woods would still be a great player for the Bears to pick, but if he is that risky to even be discussing, it might be better for them to get a safety and have their starter in place. Poles is going to have a tough decision to make, with the good news being that, regardless, he should have a starter selected in the first round.