Chicago Bears Draft Buzz Has Shifted With A New Position Being Favored At #25
If you follow the NFL draft process closely every year, you may notice interesting trends connected to teams. Initially, one position is expected to be a priority. However, as the draft draws closer and information becomes clearer, there’s a subtle shift to a different position. That happened last year for the Chicago Bears. For months, everyone thought the team would be aggressive in pursuing left tackle or pass-rusher help. Then, a few weeks before the draft, tight end popped up a lot more. Sure enough, the Bears took Colston Loveland 10th overall.
With free agency in its later waves and the pro day circuit ongoing, it’s that time again when information could start shifting. That indeed has become the case again. After weeks of seeing edge rushers and defensive tackles mocked to them by experts, a new position has taken center stage. Team insider Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune pointed the way.
25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Edge rusher looms as the greatest need, and Zion Young would be a really interesting fit for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen if he’s available. If not, Thieneman is very intriguing if available as the Bears would have a dynamic young player to pair with Coby Bryant.
Safety is certainly a position that needs another starter, and there’s been a ton of buzz about the strengths of this class. Biggs isn’t alone. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network also sees them going in the same direction.
25. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Toledo · S · Senior
McNeil-Warren has the size, length and playmaking ability to fill the void left by Jaquan Brisker — in fact, I believe EMW would be an upgrade at the position.
This shift for the Chicago Bears feels noteworthy.
Keep in mind, Biggs correctly assessed that Loveland was a target for the Bears last year. Not tight end. Loveland specifically. As for Jeremiah, his final mock draft of 2025 had Chicago taking a tight end. It was Tyler Warren of Penn State, but the position was accurate. Don’t dismiss such a shift from both men just because it’s still a month before the draft. Much of this stems from what they’ve been hearing inside the league. Given how they think the board will fall and the Bears’ priorities, safety is the position to watch.
Let’s not forget the biggest contract the team handed out in free agency was to a safety. It was clearly a priority to upgrade that position, and they still have another starting spot unfilled at the moment. Opinions on this safety class are very high. You also have a general manager who won’t be afraid to take one in the 1st round. Ryan Poles was with Kansas City when they selected Eric Berry 5th overall in 2010. That worked out well for the Chiefs. If the defensive line options don’t materialize, going safety is far from crazy at #25. After all, Dennis Allen loves using his safeties aggressively.
| Rank | Player | Team | Blitzes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Jaquan Brisker | Chicago Bears | 71 |
| 10 | C.J. Gardner-Johnson | Philadelphia Eagles | 50 |
The Bears would end a long drought with this decision.
They haven’t drafted a safety in the 1st round since 1990, when they took Mark Carrier 6th overall. That isn’t due to a lack of opportunities. They passed on Troy Polamalu in 2003, Harrison Smith in 2012, and Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James in 2018. It seems their philosophy has always been that they could find good safeties outside the 1st round. To a degree, they’ve been correct. They found Mike Brown in the 2nd, Adrian Amos in the 5th, and Eddie Jackson in the 4th. Jaquan Brisker was a 2nd as well.
The only way the Chicago Bears break this streak is if they feel one of these safeties is a rare specimen who can change the landscape of their defense. Thieneman has drawn comparisons to Kyle Hamilton and Cooper DeJean. McNeil-Warren is seen as a James-type. Not bad company to be mentioned among. If you can get either of them at 25th overall, it isn’t a difficult decision. Much will depend on which other players at premium positions are available.