For the past three years, the Chicago Bears have faced an easy task in the 1st round of the NFL draft. They had the #1 pick in 2023, which they traded, the #1 and #9 picks in 2024, and the #10 pick in 2025. It is hard to screw up top 10 selections. This year would be different. After a great season last year, they would go into this weekend with the 25th pick. Finding a quality player at that spot is much more difficult, putting lots of pressure on general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson.
Do they go after a premium position like offensive tackle or edge rusher, despite knowing both would be heavily plucked by other teams? Do they gamble on an iffy defensive tackle group? Nobody would’ve been surprised since the team needs help at all three positions. However, the Bears decided to trust their board instead. The one name that stuck out as surprisingly still available at #25 was Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Fans were elated. Draft experts were impressed.
Even people inside the league loved what the Chicago Bears did.
“First day where you’re picking, take him,” said a third scout. “He’s one of the cleanest prospects. Tackles well. Extremely good athlete. Smart, tough, competitive. You run out of adjectives. He doesn’t have a whole lot of weaknesses.” Went 41 inches in the vertical jump. His 18 reps on the bench press led the position. Arms were 31 3/8. “Poor man’s Harrison Smith,” a fourth scout said. “Just because he’s smart, athletic, tough and around the ball. I’m not sure if he can play man-to-man coverage. He’ll be a short-to-intermediate defender and a good zone defender.”
It wasn’t just the scouts. NFL coaches are big fans as well.
“I would take Thieneman over Downs,” said DB coach No. 2. “Thieneman is one of the more versatile safeties I’ve seen come out in the last few years. I feel good about him in the deep part of the field, about him in and around the box and about him in coverage, especially from a safeties standpoint. I loved the movement skills from him at the combine. He looked really fluid and loose. There’s a lot to like with him.”
DB coach No. 1 said it wouldn’t surprise him if some team took Thieneman ahead of Downs because he thinks the Oregon DB is that good.
“I think Dillon Thieneman is pretty special,” he said. “He’s ready right now. I think he’s the best tackler I’ve seen in years, but he’s also got the speed and flexibility to turn and run. I think he has first- and second-level instincts and can fit runs like a linebacker, but he can run like the wind in the back end.”
The brilliance doesn’t stop there.
One thing to remember is that coming into this draft, many experts felt it was deep along the defensive line. That is obviously a big need for the Bears. After what happened in the 1st round, their decision to take Thieneman looks even better. As of right now, there are still ten defensive linemen available who were ranked in the top 75 before the draft.
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- T.J. Parker
- Cashius Howell
- Kayden McDonald
- Lee Hunter
- R Mason Thomas
- Zion Young
- Christen Miller
- Gabe Jacas
- Derrick Moore
- Keyron Crawford
Even if there is a run on the positions early in the 2nd round, there is still a strong probability that two or three of them will be available when the Chicago Bears pick again at 57th overall in the 2nd round. This is why Poles deserves a ton of credit. He knew that the depth of this class gave him favorable odds to still find defensive line help later on. Taking Thieneman rather than reaching was the smart play. Seeing a Bears GM have such a sound process remains refreshing after years of watching them chase needs.
The Bears defense is already better.
Landing a plug-and-play starter with the 25th pick is not nearly as easy as people think. Many times, you’re forced to draft a project player with high talent because the more proven options are gone. The Chicago Bears avoided that trap. Thieneman is smart enough and experienced enough to play immediately. His skill set is an ideal fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. Getting to play next to Coby Bryant, a great veteran leader, will only help the transition. The first task was a major accomplishment.
Now the team can sit back and continue letting the board unfold. While a defensive line run is likely, it won’t go on forever. Early projections have several cornerbacks, safeties, wide receivers, interior offensive line, and linebackers ranked high going into this class. You can bet teams will be digging into those areas as well. There is no reason for the Bears to panic because they’ve played the board as well as anybody in this draft. Now we get to see how they reap the benefits.
