Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
There’s a decent shot that Theieneman isn’t there at pick 41, but there are a few others who could be worth the pick. The Bengals have one safety from Toledo, why not add another?
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has been a star in the Rockets’ secondary for three seasons now, but he earned significant snaps as a true freshman as well. In his three seasons as a starter, McNeil-Warren tallied 207 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, a sack, 13 pass breakups, five interceptions (one pick-six), and forced eight fumbles while recovering two.
Selecting McNeil-Warren wouldn’t necessarily be the end of Stone’s time in Cincinnati. The Toledo standout is more of a strong safety who can play down in the box.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)
– #3 safety/#42 overall
– 6033/209
– 11 career forced fumbles
– Enforcer over the MOF, no fear of contact
– Syncs break with the QB’s release & takes good angles to the ball
– Punishing tackler with elite stopping power
– Length to shed blocks,… pic.twitter.com/1bNwEDaa4p— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 7, 2026
The most enticing part of his game relative to the Bengals is that he can cover tight ends, force turnovers, and is a sound tackler, three things the Bengals have struggled with over the last couple of seasons. He is adept at recognizing route concepts underneath and is just always around the ball.
He doesn’t have elite speed, so if he is going to play as a single-high safety, he will have to be on it regarding his instincts. Plus, there is a quality of play question. Of course, he started against Kentucky (2025) and Illinois (2023). In those games, he totaled 13 tackles and a fumble recovery.
McNeil-Warren might not be the full-time safety the Bengals want, but he certainly fills a need.
