A Move The Bears Haven’t Made In 36 Years Is On The Table In The Draft
The worst thing you can do going into a draft is have assumptions about what your team will do. In years past with the Chicago Bears, it was relatively easy. They were constantly picking in the top 10. That meant the odds were pretty favorable that they would be focused on quarterbacks, offensive tackle, and pass rushers. People have assumed that it would be much the same this year. That might be a mistake. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune made sure to point that out.
Yes, the Bears do need a left tackle, along with defensive tackle and edge rusher help. However, he believes GM Ryan Poles’ list of possible positions might be more extensive than we think.
I’d bet Poles is hunting for an impact player at No. 25, and that could come from a lot of positions. I don’t think anyone viewed tight end as the Bears’ top need before they drafted Colston Loveland in the first round last year. Similarly, they weren’t in need of a wide receiver when they selected Luther Burden III in Round 2. Both will be core building blocks for the future.
You probably can cross off a few positions, but I’d add safety, linebacker and cornerback. Heck, if there’s a running back the Bears believe is electric, that wouldn’t be a stunner. It’s more important to get impact players, especially early in the draft, than it is to draft for need.
Even with the departure of Nahshon Wright, it doesn’t feel like cornerback will be a focus. The Bears have Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson all under contract. Linebacker is possible, but that doesn’t feel like a priority position. Safety, on the other hand, is definitely in the conversation
The Chicago Bears haven’t gone safety in the 1st round in a LONG time.
That fateful moment came in 1990 when they selected Mark Carrier 6th overall. He would set the team’s rookie record with 10 interceptions and go on to become a three-time Pro Bowler. Since then, the Bears have relied on a steady mix of veterans and later draft picks to supplement the position. Now with Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all becoming free agents, it makes sense the team would look at safety as a viable option in the 1st round.
History might be on their side, too. Here is every safety selected in the 20s range (Bears pick 25th) since 2000.
| Name | Overall | Year |
| Adam Archuleta | 20th | 2001 |
| Derrick Gibson | 28th | 2001 |
| Ed Reed | 24th | 2002 |
| Reggie Nelson | 21st | 2007 |
| Devin McCourty | 27th | 2010 |
| Harrison Smith | 29th | 2012 |
| Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | 21st | 2014 |
| Jabrill Peppers | 25th | 2017 |
| Terell Edmunds | 28th | 2018 |
| Darnell Savage Jr. | 21st | 2019 |
| Johnathan Abraham | 27th | 2019 |
| Malaki Starks | 27th | 2025 |
Like any position, there have been misses. However, by and large, teams that have selected a safety in this range have tended to get anywhere from a decent starter to a Hall of Famer. This doesn’t include the bevy of excellent safeties who’ve gone at the top of the 2nd round like Budda Baker, Xavier McKinney, Jalen Pitre, and Nick Emmanwori.
Chicago appears to have a strong class incoming, too.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com revealed his top 50 prospects for the 2026 draft a week ago. He had three safeties listed as 1st round prospects. Caleb Downs is the obvious name. Most consider him the next Ed Reed/Eric Berry type, who is a do-it-all talent. The Chicago Bears aren’t likely to see him on the board when they pick. The other two are far more plausible, starting with Dillon Thieneman of Oregon. Lauded for his intelligence, he can identify what offenses are doing and adjust accordingly. His size and aggressiveness make him an excellent run-stopper, while his eight interceptions prove he can play good coverage.
The other is Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo. He is more your classic strong safety with terrific size and a willingness to fly downhill and hit somebody. Runners rarely escape him once he has a bead on them. Better still, he’s developed a knack for punching the ball out. He could technically be called the Charles Tillman of safeties.
With Jaquan Brisker expected to leave, either one of those players would be an ideal replacement. They can play the same style as him and may have more upside in coverage. The odds say at least one of them will be available at #25. From there, it comes down to whether somebody at another position is higher on the Bears’ board. Make no mistake, though. Safety is in play.