The Chicago Bears have needs greater than others. Nothing is topping their need for defensive line help. However, they still have some holes to fill on the roster. Adding the right pieces to this team could be the difference between winning the Super Bowl and being one of the league’s true disappointments.
One area that the Bears must consider a priority is safety, considering there are none currently under contract with starters Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker both slated to hit free agency. In the 2026 NFL Draft, there are plenty of options to consider at this spot.
Whether it’s in the first round or one of the other rounds, selecting a safety is a necessity for general manager Ryan Poles and his staff. One of these five are must see at the combine for one reason or another.
Caleb Downs – Ohio State
The Bears would have to trade up to select Caleb Downs. This is one of the best all-around football players in the entire draft. Every team is going to be watching him at the combine just to see how he looks. Any team serious about winning would want this guy on their team. Whether it’s intercepting passes, forcing fumbles, or making big-time tackles, Downs is the guy for the job.
Scouting report: “Productive, high-effort safety with three years of starting experience in big games at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He’s at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. He’ll gamble a little bit as a run defender, but he makes more than enough disruptive plays near the line of scrimmage to make up for it. He’s fluent in man or zone over the first two levels and is rarely fooled by play-action or misdirection. While he’s quick to close and strike underneath, there are hints of caution that prevent him from making more plays on the football. Downs isn’t the biggest, fastest or most versatile player, but he consistently puts his stamp on games.” — Lance Zierlein
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – Toledo
It’s always nice to see a player from the MAC get consideration in the early stages of the draft, especially from a team in the Midwest. The Bears would likely be able to get Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round if they wanted to use a pick of that magnitude to address the safety position.
Scouting report: “Long, downhill safety capable of bolstering a team’s run defense and playing enforcer over the middle. McNeil-Warren is most valuable when playing near the line of scrimmage or in robber positioning. He anticipates well in coverage and is quick to close on receivers but will need to be protected by scheme to prevent speed mismatches. He’s urgent in run support and has a feel for slipping blocks/meeting runners early in the carry. He’s a rangy tackler, but needs to quiet his feet when diagnosing and flowing downhill to tackle. McNeil-Warren might be pigeon-holed schematically but he’s good at his job.” — Lance Zierlein
Dillon Thieneman – Oregon
Dillon Thieneman played safety at a high level against quality Big Ten opponents on a weekly basis. That type of experience could be what makes him an intriguing draft pick for some teams looking to make their defensive backfield better. In 2025, Thieneman had five pass deflections, two interceptions, one sack, and 96 tackles.
Scouting report: “Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts. He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning. He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man. He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary.” — Lance Zierlein
A.J. Haulcy – LSU
A.J. Haulcy played safety in the SEC and is projected to be a second-round draft pick. You know by that fact alone that he is going to put on a show at the combine simply based on his pure athleticism. He is a big-time player in terms of skill as well. In 2025, he had three interceptions, four deflected passes, and 88 tackles while playing in one of the best football leagues in the world.
Scouting report: “Haulcy, aka Mr. Give Me That, is a throwback safety with a compact, densely muscled frame and a pro feel for reading the field. He’s a rare blend of ballhawk and enforcer who can scurry into passing lanes for takeaways or run through a receiver to break up a pass. His pattern recognition and instincts are top-notch and he’s decisive in his reactions. A lack of sustained top-end speed could create mismatches in man coverage. He’s more effective playing forward than he is at guarding large spaces in deeper coverages. He’s rock-steady as a finisher but sees the missed tackle total tick higher as an open-field tackler. Haulcy’s frame and game are pro-ready, though. He projects as a good NFL starter in a zone-heavy scheme.” — Lance Zierlein
Kamari Ramsey – USC
During his four-year collegiate career, split between UCLA and USC, Kamari Ramsey was an impressive ballhawk as a safety. He even had a couple of forced fumbles during his junior year, but only played nine games during his senior season. If he is healthy and shows off some great skills at the combine, it may be wise to consider a fellow USC alum to be with Caleb Williams on the opposite side of the ball. Chicago can land Ramsey either late in the second round or at some point in the third. Don’t expect him, or any of these guys, to be there far beyond that.
Scouting report: “Versatile safety prospect with solid size. Ramsey saw a heavier workload at nickelback in 2025 after splitting time at all three safety spots in 2024. He plays with average eyes in space and good break anticipation when matched up in man. He was adequate covering the slot in college but might not have enough short-area burst and athleticism to do the same in the pros. He needs to close downhill in run support with greater urgency when playing from depth. His tackle-finishing saw a massive improvement in 2025, but with multiple games missed in consecutive seasons, Ramsey’s draft stock could take a hit due to durability concerns.” — Lance Zierlein
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 must-watch safeties for Bears at NFL combine
Reporting by Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
