The Chicago Bears are heading toward one of the most anticipated events on the calendar as the NFL converges on Indianapolis for the annual scouting combine this week. The showcase is where prospects could force their way into discussions as teams prepare for March's free agency and April’s draft.
For the Bears, some players’ departures are more obvious than others. Jaquan Brisker’s time in Chicago appeared to be done throughout the team’s run to the NFC North title and it seems the Bears will resist dumping money into two safeties with All-Pro Kevin Byard also a free agent.
That makes the combine an important one for Chicago in terms of replacements for Brisker, and there’s three prospects that stand out as players the team may meet with.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)
Assuming the Bears are unlikely to trade up for Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, who is the consensus No. 1 safety in this year’s draft and the No. 8 overall prospect on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, their next target could be Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who is projected to go in the late first or early second round of April’s draft.
The biggest appeal for McNeil is his work against the run. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded 56 run stops on 848 career run defense snaps while also racking up 148 total tackles over four seasons with the Rockets. A 10.9% career missed tackle rate is almost double the 5.6% rate Brisker put up last season but it’s similar to the 10.2% career rate the veteran has posted over his four years in Chicago.
In addition to the run defense, McNeil-Warren has also been a versatile chess piece, playing 401 snaps in the box last season but also playing 198 snaps as a deep safety and 33 snaps as a slot corner. While NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes that he could be schematically limited in coverage, he held his own, allowing six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and five pass breakups on 15 targets last season.
Brisker’s coverage wasn’t a strong suit of his, allowing 36 catches for 374 yards and four touchdowns with an interception and five pass breakups on 50 targets last season. But if McNeil-Warren can show some athleticism as well as some intangibles, he could be a surprising target for Chicago either at the 25th overall selection or a potential trade-up from the 57th overall pick.
Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)
The No. 36 prospect on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus board, Thieneman would be a pick to replace Brisker’s intelligence in the secondary. While Brisker had just four interceptions during his time with the Bears, he often was in charge of making pre-snap adjustments and getting the secondary in position to make plays and Thieneman could play a similar role if he joins Dennis Allen.
Like Brisker, Thieneman is a tackling machine with 306 total tackles and 188 solo tackles between Purdue and Oregon during his three-year collegiate career. He also has been a stud in coverage, making eight interceptions including six in his freshman year with the Boilermakers. But what sets him apart is a similar ability to make adjustments as Zierlein dubbed him “an extension of his defensive coordinator.”
Like McNeil-Warren, Thieneman is active against the run, with 30 run stops during his lone season in Oregon per PFF. He also improved his missed tackle rate in each of the past three seasons, going from 13.1% during his freshman season at Purdue to 8.3% last season. The combine testing could play a key role in how high he could climb up the board.
Bud Clark (TCU)
Clark is more of a diamond in the rough prospect as opposed to a first-round target, but he could fly up Chicago’s draft board with a good showing at the combine. Clark is currently listed as the No. 104 prospect on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, though has already started to see his stock rise thanks to a strong performance at the Senior Bowl earlier this month.
“He flew around the field, showing sticky man-coverage ability during one-on-one drills, and came downhill during team sessions to break up a pass,” B/R’s NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl said via Gary Davenport, who also went on to list Chicago as an ideal fit for Clark.
Zierlein also added that Clark’s NFL comparison could be Kerby Joseph thanks to his coverage ability, which helped him grab 15 interceptions during his time with the Horned Frogs.
Clark’s limitations are shown with a 14.8% missed tackle rate and just 13 run stops during his final season at TCU. But his coverage ability could give Chicago a solid ball-hawking safety next to Byard, assuming he re-signs this spring and perhaps give Allen something to work with if Brisker leaves in free agency.