The signing of Coby Bryant has been one of the Bears' biggest moves this offseason. It addressed an obvious positional need, and while $40 million is the most they have spent on any new addition, that price tag doesn't exactly suggest they needed to break the bank for him, which is always good with a salary cap.
As of right now, though, Bryant is one of only four safeties on the Bears' roster. While it's very common for NFL teams to carry only two free safeties and two strong safeties on their active rosters, one would think the Bears would want all of the talent possible there after 2025 exposed it as a glaring weakness.
One name that keeps popping up for the Bears is Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He's expected to be taken late in the first round of the NFL draft after four years at Toledo. Right away, he stands out as a rarity in the NIL era: A projected first-rounder who played four seasons with a mid-major program.
But NFL teams care less about where McNeil-Warren played than whether he can carry his game over to the professional level. He certainly has the numbers to back it up as he's coming off a season in which he recorded a career-high 77 tackles, had 5.5 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles, and had the only interception return for a touchdown in his collegiate career.
McNeil-Warren can play; there are no doubts about that. The reason he should interest Bears fans is that he's been their pick in Tankathon's mock draft for some time now. While that obviously doesn't guarantee anything, it becomes harder to ignore when that prediction has remained unchanged for as long as it has.
McNeil-Warren would provide depth to a position that isn't offering much in terms of continuity or even depth, in general. Jaylon Jones is the only returning Bears safety, and while he's been decent, he's not exactly someone you want to revolve that position around.
At the very least, McNeil-Warren can offer a chance to provide long-term stability at safety. Plus, with Bryant having signed for three years, he won't find a better mentor to show him the ins and outs of succeeding in the NFL. Even if McNeil-Warren doesn't stay in Chicago beyond his rookie contract, he gains some knowledge moving forward.
The Bears can stabilize what had been a glaring weakness on the backend of the defense. What's more, they can invest in their long-term future if McNeil-Warren is selected. While I don't want to speak for all Chicago fans, it seems safe to say that everyone would appreciate that.
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