INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The second day of workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine was held on Friday.
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This article originates on InsideTheU.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ill., — The top four safeties on the Chicago Bears depth chart are all set to become free agents here in 2026, creating a need even if they are able to bring back two of those four come this March. That need is being a little underplayed as the focus has been on finding help for the pass rush and now, likely another linebacker.
But for the Bears, this safety class is a deep one which should help their chances at finding potentially a starter right away.
The first name that comes to mind is Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who is considered the second-best safety behind only projected top-10 pick Caleb Downs. The Toledo product has a first-round grade from some draft analysts already but a big showing in Indianapolis could change that quickly. And he's a candidate to be the pick at No. 25 come April's draft for the Bears.
"I've met with them on the first day that I got here," McNeil-Warren said, via CHGO on Thursday. "It went great, they're all a great coaching staff. Just going into the room with (Al Harris) with great excitement, it's everything. I feel like wherever you're at, if you know how to play ball, they're going to find you."
McNeil-Warren plays like Jaquan Brisker, a player that the Bears will likely have to replace. He's rangy, has playmaking abilities, good arm length and is a kid who puts it all on the line. He's also loyal, as well. McNeil-Warren opted to stay at Toledo and not chase an NIL deal elsewhere. He was rewarded by being named an All-American by a few different outlets in 2025.
The safety also has a knack for being around the football. That includes the "Peanut Punch", leading him to have nine forced fumbles while at Toledo. With Chicago's defense leading the league in takeaways, he's a natural fit.
But if he goes before Chicago picks in the first or second round, there are other options. The next name to watch is Oregon's Dillon Thieneman.
Dillon Thieneman (Photo: © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, USA TODAY Sports)
The former Purdue and Oregon standout is also a safety who has the potential to shoot up the draft boards. He's going into the process with a second-round grade, but there's a good chance he also goes late first round or early second round.
While the tape is good on Thieneman, you can see a clear improvement from his time at Purdue to his time at Oregon. That starts with work ethic. When he got to Oregon, he set his specific schedule and stuck to that.
"At Oregon, I have my specific set schedule," Thieneman said. "Every day I wake up around 5:20, go there about 5:20, go through my routine comes from first from seeing my parents, how they operate in their jobs, and then see my older brothers what they had to work their way their spot on to Purdue. And I kind of took that mindset and demeanor."
One thing Thieneman focused on was open field tackling, something that is important as a safety. For Dennis Allen's defense, you have to be able to come up in the box and make some tackles.
"I really wanted to work on open field tackling. That second year at Purdue, I wasn't the best that year. And then it wasn't something I really worked on in the offseason with the coaches."
Safety might feel like an under-the-radar need. But with no safeties currently signed as of now, it's becoming a bigger need as the days go on.
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