The Headhunter, The General, and The Trap: 5 Safeties to Save the Secondary
Let’s look at the safety room situation real quick. Actually, don’t. It’s depressing.
Kevin Byard III was a First-Team All-Pro last year, which was awesome, but the man is 32 years old. In NFL years, that’s basically geriatric. Jaquan Brisker? I love the way he plays, but I wince every time he makes a tackle. Three concussions in three years is scary stuff, and we can’t count on him being on the field for 17 games. Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens? They’re free agents.
Basically, the cupboard is about to be bare. And in Dennis Allen’s defense, the safety is the quarterback. If you don’t have a guy back there who can diagnose a route combination before the receiver even makes his break, you’re dead. Allen needs guys who are interchangeable, smart, and violent.
We’re sitting at Pick 25. This is the sweet spot for safeties. We don’t have to reach. We can sit back and let a playmaker fall into our lap.
I’ve broken down the 5 names you need to know. One is a pipe dream, one is a perfect fit, and one is a “business decision” waiting to happen that we need to avoid.
Here is the no-BS breakdown of the top safety prospects for the Bears in 2026.
1. Caleb Downs (Ohio State) – The “Pipe Dream” General
The Vitals: 6’0″ | 205 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: A defensive coordinator playing safety.
Let’s just get this out of the way: Caleb Downs is the best defensive player in the draft. Period. He started at Alabama as a freshman (which is impossible), transferred to Ohio State, and just casually dominated the Big Ten. He processes the game at warp speed. He’s telepathic.
Why He Fits: He is exactly what Dennis Allen dreams about at night. He can play single-high, he can play in the box, he can cover the slot. He tackles like a linebacker and covers like a corner. He’s the “erase button” for an entire offense.
The “But…”: He’s going Top 10. Maybe Top 8. Unless he decides to tank his Combine interview by telling teams he hates football and loves knitting, he is not falling to 25.
The Verdict: If he’s there at 15, you trade up. You send whatever picks it takes. But realistically? He’s going to be wearing a different uniform, and we’re going to hate playing against him.
2. Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) – The “Ryan Poles Prototype”
The Vitals: 6’0″ | 205 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: A maniac who shows up at 5:30 AM to hit people.
If you could build a safety in a lab for Ryan Poles, it would be Dillon Thieneman. The guy is a stats machine — 306 tackles, 8 picks. He transferred from Purdue to Oregon and didn’t skip a beat. He was an All-American. He’s smart, he’s versatile, and he plays with a motor that runs “white-hot.”
Why He Fits: He fits DA’s defense perfectly. He’s a relentless worker. He arrives at the facility at 5:30 AM every day. On the field, he triggers downhill instantly. He’s excellent in run support (90.2 PFF grade) and has the instincts to play the “robber” role that Allen loves. He’s a plug-and-play starter who brings leadership immediately.
The “But…”: He can get a little over-aggressive. Sometimes he tries to blow a guy up instead of wrapping up, or he gets caught peeking in the backfield on play-action. But these are “effort” mistakes, not “lazy” mistakes.
The Verdict: This is the pick at 25. He’s realistic. He fills the need. He fits the culture. He replaces the durability concerns of Brisker with a guy who lives to play football. Don’t overthink it.
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) – The “Small School Savage”
The Vitals: 6’2″ | 202 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: A bully who realized he was bigger than everyone else in the MAC.
This is my favorite “sleeper” who isn’t really a sleeper anymore. McNeil-Warren destroyed the MAC last year. He had the #1 safety grade in the country. He allowed a passer rating of 44.8 when targeted. He’s long (6’2″), rangy, and plays with a chip on his shoulder the size of Toledo.
Why He Fits: He’s an enforcer. He forced 10 fumbles in three years. Ten! He’s a ball-hawk who seeks out contact. He’s big enough to cover tight ends (looking at you, Tucker Craft) and nasty enough to play in the box.
The “But…”: The medicals. He missed the end of the season with an “enigmatic injury.” That’s scout code for “we don’t know what happened and we’re scared.” Also, can he tackle NFL running backs? He missed 15.5% of his tackles last year. That’s high.
The Verdict: If we trade back to the second round, or if he falls to 57, this is a smash accept. At 25? It’s a little rich with the medical questions. But the talent is undeniable.
4. A.J. Haulcy (LSU) – The “Headhunter” Bargain
The Vitals: 5’11” | 222 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: A linebacker stuck in a safety’s body.
A.J. Haulcy is built like a tank. He’s 222 pounds and hits like a freight train. He transferred from New Mexico to Houston to LSU and just kept hitting people. He was First-Team All-SEC. He’s an old-school strong safety who makes receivers regret catching the ball over the middle.
Why He Fits: We need toughness. We need a guy who sets the tone. Haulcy is that guy. He’s incredible in zone coverage and attacks the run downhill. He’s also a ball magnet — 10 career interceptions. He creates turnovers, which is the #1 thing this defense did well last year.
The “But…”: He’s short (5’11”) and stocky. He’s not a center-fielder. You can’t leave him alone deep in Cover 1 and expect him to run sideline-to-sideline with a burner. He’s a box safety/robber specialist.
The Verdict: This is the Round 2 steal. If we go Edge at 25, Haulcy at 57 is a dream scenario. He pairs perfectly with a rangier free safety.
5. Kamari Ramsey (USC) – The “Business Decision” Trap
The Vitals: 6’0″ | 205 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: Great in coverage, invisible when it’s time to tackle.
Ramsey looks the part. He’s fluid. He covers the slot well. He had an 88.5 coverage grade. If this was 7-on-7, he’d be a first-rounder.
Why He Fits (On Paper): He’s versatile and can play nickel. He reads routes well.
The “But…” (And it’s a dealbreaker): Run Defense. He had a 63.0 run defense grade. In the Big Ten, and specifically the NFC North, you have to tackle. You have to hit Josh Jacobs and Jahmyr Gibbs. Ramsey shows up to the tackle point and… politely negotiates. He’s not physical enough for what Allen demands.
The Verdict: PASS. We cannot have a safety who is a liability in the run game. We already have durability issues back there; we don’t need softness issues too. Let someone else draft the coverage specialist. We need hitters.
Visualizing the Safety Board
Final Verdict
If Caleb Downs falls? You take him and sprint to the bank.
But in the real world, Dillon Thieneman is the guy. He fits the culture Ryan Poles has built. He’s smart, tough, and versatile. He’s the Day 1 starter who stabilizes the secondary for the next five years.
If we decide to prioritize the trenches at 25 (which I wouldn’t hate), then targeting A.J. Haulcy or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round is a fantastic consolation prize.
Just don’t draft the guy who can’t tackle. This is Chicago. We hit people here.
Bear Down.