POD Community Mock: With the 25th pick, the Bears select…

Dec 30, 2023; Tucson, AZ, USA; Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (22) against the Wyoming Cowboys in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Despite their success last season, the Chicago Bears remained owned by the Detroit Lions in 2025, losing to their rival twice during the regular season. With a wildly successful season under first-time head coach Ben Johnson, they’re hoping to take their franchise to another level and get out from under the thumb of the Lions.

The Bears are on the clock in our site-wide 2026 NFL mock draft, which is run by the loyal members of our community. Representing the Bears in this mock is commenter katmandoo, and they’re ready to make the 25th overall pick.

Before we get to the pick, head to our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker. There you’ll find the previous 24 picks, along with links to each article and a grade for each pick, as decided by you, the readers. Don’t forget to cast your vote for each pick with the poll at the bottom of the articles.

Now, onto this pick:

With the 25th pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Chicago Bears select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, safety out of Toledo.

Here’s katmandoo explaining the pick:

Yes, we meant to do that.

Let’s address the elephant in the draft room first. The board did not fall how we hoped. All the edge rushers we had true first-round grades on were gone, including Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Keldric Faulk. While it wasn’t surprising that these players were gone, at that point the choice came down to McNeil-Warren or Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State. We liked both, but EMW fixes something completely rather than adding depth with starter potential.

Also, in full transparency, we did have a trade worked out in principle with the Miami Dolphins to move from 25 to 30. Unfortunately, it turns out Ryan Poles was negotiating with a TikTok prank account and not Jon-Eric “Xlgrev” Sullivan. By the time we realized we weren’t on the phone with a real employee of the Dolphins, the clock was under a minute and we did what any rational front office would do: panic calmly and make a smart pick.

EMW steps in immediately the departure of both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard, which is not exactly a small ask. But pairing him with Coby Bryant (not Kobe Bryant, although both have elite instincts) gives the Bears a long, physical, and complementary safety duo.

At 6-foot-4, EMW plays like a guy who shops for interceptions on the top shelf. In a split-safety system, he will excel in zone, read quarterbacks well, and closes space quickly. He’s a willing and effective run defender, and when he arrives at the ball carrier, he’s not just tackling, he’s trying to evict the football from its current residence. The man punches the ball out like it owes him money (9 forced fumbles in college).

He’s not perfect. Man coverage can get a little grabby, and his angles occasionally suggest he trusts vibes more than geometry. But in the right system, his strengths are amplified.

Bottom line: the Bears didn’t get the edge rusher they wanted, but they may have secured the back-end of their defense for years. And next time, we’re double-checking who we’re trading with.

Time to grade the pick. Vote in the poll below and share your expanded thoughts in the comment section: