The Chicago Bears' secondary will take a massive hit in the offseason, with multiple players becoming free agents.
Some of those top players include C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and Nahshon Wright. That leaves the Bears to decide which players to bring back and which can hit the free-agent market, giving them a chance to replace them.
Bleacher Report released its post-Super Bowl mock draft, which shows who picks whom in the first round. The publication has Chicago taking Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the 25th overall pick.
"The Chicago Bears featured a tremendous pair of safeties last season in Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III. Neither is under contract this offseason. Obviously, the Bears probably want to bring one, if not both, back for at least another year. Until that plan is determined, safety remains at the top of Chicago's needs. Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren isn't well-known on the national level after playing four years in the MAC. However, his skill set makes him a solid first-round bet."
Bears take Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in mock draft
McNeil-Warren is no slouch player, as he has the ability to be a playmaker. Last season with Toledo, he racked up 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five pass deflections, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one touchdown, and a half of a sack.
He's got all the instincts needed to play at safety and could be a guy the Bears might be able to move around to play some in the box or drop back into coverage to create a turnover. One thing to consider is Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who also came from Toledo. He's a top-five cornerback, so it might be worth looking at what that school is doing to develop great players from the secondary.
This move would allow the Bears to re-sign Byard and have McNeil-Warren learn from him. This seems like a great move for Chicago and could really help a pass defense that was one of the worst in the NFL in 2025.
Read more: Bears' Ben Johnson must learn a harsh lesson after Seahawks Super Bowl LX win
Watch for the Bears to look at safety and edge rusher in the first round, but if they land a top edge rusher in free agency, McNeil-Warren would be a great addition in the secondary.