Bears land a top safety in Bucky Brooks' latest 2026 NFL mock draft

The Chicago Bears are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with plenty of needs to address, most notably on defense. Luckily, they have four picks in the top 89 selections, including the additional second-round pick after trading wide receiver DJ Moore earlier this offseason. There are a lot of different directions Chicago could go with their first-round pick, but it could very well come down to the best available at one of their top positions of need -- defensive tackle, defensive end and safety.

While addressing the pass rush is important, the Bears still have a starting job to fill at safety after signing Coby Bryant in free agency, and that could very well be the selection at 25th overall. NFL. com's Bucky Brooks revealed his latest mock draft, where he has the Bears addressing a big need on defense with safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, filling that starting safety job opposite newcomer Bryant after the departures of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker.

"Kevin Byard's departure creates a huge void in the middle of the Bears' secondary," wrote Brooks. "McNeil-Warren is an enticing safety prospect with a rare combination of skills as a center fielder and box-area bandit. " Last season with Toledo, McNeil-Warren totaled 77 tackles, including 5.

5 tackles for loss, 0. 5 sack, two interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recovering in 13 games. McNeil-Warren would be a plug-and-play starter, where his physicality, size, ballhawking ability and run support would make him a great asset for this Dennis Allen defense.