The Chicago Bears knew they needed a mixture of good scouting and good fortune to land a quality player so late in the 1st round. As it turned out, they got both. The 1st round of the 2026 NFL draft saw some surprising twists, but it was mostly a blitz on the trenches for most of the run time. Offensive tackle and edge rusher saw tons of action in the top 20. By the time the Bears went on the clock, most of the notable names were gone. Except one. By some miracle, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was still on the board.
Many saw him as the most gifted player at the position in this class. He’s 6’0″, 200 lbs with 4.35 speed. It shows with his range in coverage, but that doesn’t stop him from flying to the line of scrimmage to deliver hits and tackles. His versatility alone makes him an obvious fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. Yet what sets him apart is his intelligence. The Oregon coaches constantly relied on him to get teammates lined up correctly before the snap. Chicago covets smart players. He checks that box big-time.
Dillon Thieneman might remind Bears fans of Gary Fencik.
He was the unheralded star of the famed defenses of the 1980s. While a free safety by position, the truth was Fencik could do everything. He was athletic enough to play coverage, smart enough to cut through passing lanes, and was absolutely vicious as a hitter. Thieneman is built much the same way. People will call him a strong safety because of how well he drops into the box, only to realize he has the range and anticipation to make you pay in coverage. Hybrid safeties like this are hard to find.
By all accounts, his football character is off the charts. No plays off. He flies to the football. The Bears have had players with that type of personality before, but none of them had the athletic tools that Dillon Thieneman does. Once he gets a bead on you, there is no escape. His closing speed is special. Putting him next to Coby Bryant gives the Bears probably their most talented safety tandem in decades. There is no shortage of creative things Allen can do with them on Sundays.
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The best part is the Bears played the board perfectly.
Taking a safety in the 1st round doesn’t mean they’re out of luck to find defensive line help. Most experts believe this draft class is deep at edge rusher and defensive tackle. That means there is a strong chance they will have some quality edge rushers and interior guys waiting for them in the 2nd round. That is one thing general manager Ryan Poles has always been good at. He leans into the depth of a class and takes advantage rather than forcing the issue. That is how the Bears ended up with Kyle Monangai last year.
The defense is instantly better with Thieneman on board. His speed and versatility will make life so much more difficult for opposing receivers. Quarterbacks must be wary of where he is at all times, lest they risk him taking it away. He had eight interceptions in college. This is not a guy you can avoid. He is someone you’ll have to game-plan for. The Bears haven’t had a safety like that since Mike Brown in the 2000s. Get excited. The defense has taken its first step out of the mud.
