The Chicago Bears may have won the NFC North title a year ago, but they know there is simply no holding their position as they prepare for the 2026 season. The competition in the division is incredibly rough, and if they want to hold off the archrival Green Bay Packers and the powerful Detroit Lions they have to maintain their strengths and upgrade their weaknesses. They believe they have done just that with the selection of Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round.
The Bears did something they haven’t done since the 2018 NFL Draft. By bringing Thieneman into the fold with the 25th overall pick, Chicago has selected a defensive player with their first-round pick. The last time they did that was when they selected middle linebacker Roquan Smith.
Smith was a star for the Bears for 3-plus seasons after he was selected with the No. 8 pick overall. He was traded to the Baltimore Ravens midway through the 2021 season. Smith is a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro.
The Bears are hoping they can get similar results from Thieneman, who played the first two years of his college career at Purdue before transferring. Thieneman had 6 interceptions in his first season with the Boilermakers in 2023. He was credited with 2 passes defensed and he registered 106 tackles. He followed that season up with 104 tackles in 2024 and he also had 7 passes defensed. Many expected the division rival Minnesota Vikings to select Thieneman with the No. 18 pick, but they passed on him
Thieneman was dynamic for the Ducks last season with 96 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 passes defensed.
He has good size at 6-0 and 201 pounds. He is a sure tackler with excellent range.
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