The Chicago Bears wanted to keep Kevin Byard II in town during free agency. Unfortunately, the New England Patriots came knocking with a $7 million offer and lured him to Foxborough, leaving a major hole in Dennis Allen's secondary.
Fortuantely for the Bears, they should have just the right guy to replace Byard and be one of the defensive centerpieces for years to come. Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren should be available by the time they're on the clock with the 25th overall pick, and not taking him might be a disservice.
The Bears Should Draft Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
While not many safeties go in the first round, this class isn't particularly deep. McNeil-Warren doesn't play in one of the so-called impact positions, but he's one of the most physically gifted players in this draft, not to mention a guy who's perfectly made for the modern game.
The Seattle Seahawks just proved how much a hybrid defender like Nick Emmanwori can do for a championship-caliber defense, and McNeil-Warren would give the Bears a similar type of do-it-all defensive back.
He can be a big nickel, or he can stuff the box and impose his physicality against the running game. Moreover, he's also fast, swift, and agile enough to hold his ground in the passing game against speedy receivers. Whether it's as a defensive centerfield or as another linebacker, he can be an every-down, every-situation type of player roaming on defense.
McNeil-Warren will also get to play for one of the biggest defensive back gurus in the game. Al Harris has helped so many young players take a leap and force turnovers at an impressive rate, and getting to polish a physical specimen like McNeil-Warren from the second he sets foot in the league is a promising picture.
The Bears could also use their first-round pick to get another pass rusher or offensive tackle. Then again, given the way the pre-draft big board is shaping up, it's hard to believe they can get their hands on someone who can make an impact right away at any of those positions.
McNeil-Warren, on the other hand, is an NFL-ready player who can excel next to Coby Bryant, just like Bryant did in Seattle last season with Emmanwori. This is a copycat league, and teams paying attention and trying to do what the Seahawks did last season know that finding an uber-athletic hybrid safety is the first step to unleashing so many things on defense.
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