The Chicago Bears are coming off a magical 2025 season, but they have completely turned their attention to 2026. The team understands last year won’t win them games next season; Chicago has to build a team ready to deliver on expectations. The Bears have already started that process, adding veterans in free agency, and the building will continue in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Because of the productive season Chicago had, the team’s first pick in the draft isn’t until pick 25. While that’s a good problem to have, it also means the team may have to watch multiple prospects that Chicago loves go off the board.
That’s exactly what happened in the latest mock draft of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper. Bears fans know the team needs to build up the secondary, so they have taken a liking to safety prospects Dillion Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Unfortunately for Chicago, Kiper predicted that the two safeties will hear their name called in back-to-back picks: Thieneman at 18 to the Minnesota Vikings and McNeil-Warren at 19 to the Carolina Panthers.
With both off the board before the Bears are even on the clock, Kiper has Chicago selecting defensive end Zion Young with the 25th pick.
Bears miss out on top safety prospects in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft
Young, out of Missouri, would be a good pickup for Chicago because the team needs edge help. Kiper explained, detailing how the Bears have been unsuccessful in finding Montez Sweat a running mate. With Chicago now at contender status, Young could emerge as the answer they’ve been looking for.
Still, the pass rush and the secondary work together, and this selection would leave Chicago’s defensive backfield with a question mark. The Bears do have Coby Bryant, who they signed in free agency, but outside of him, everything is up in the air. Guys like Cam Lewis and Elijah Hicks are the other players in the room hoping to establish themselves as impact contributors. There’s a fear that there won’t be enough.
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That’s why Kiper had Chicago circle back in the second round to take Arizona safety Treydan Stukes with the 57th-overall pick. However, Stukes, as a prospect, isn’t on the same tier as Thieneman and McNeil-Warren. So if the Bears want one of them, they will either have to move up or just hope they fall later than expected.
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