The Chicago Bears entered the 2026 NFL Draft with some big needs on defense, especially in the secondary. Not even the most optimistic fan thought they'd get a chance to land one of the most promising defensive backs in this class, but here we are.
Oregon's Dillon Thieneman was projected to be taken within the first 15-20 picks, so watching him fall to the Bears' laps at No. 25 was a pleasant surprise. Fast forward to today, and he's made some general managers look foolish for passing on him.
Despite playing sparingly in the preseason, the rookie strong safety did more than enough to make the team comfortable rolling with him as a day-one starter. According to The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner, his work ethic has him as one of the biggest preseason winners among his fellow rookies.
"Ben Johnson this summer compared Thieneman to a robot, in the best way possible, saying Thieneman's work ethic from the start of spring drills through the end of camp was high level. Thieneman will be a day-one starter, as expected," Baumgardner wrote.
With a few exceptions, first-round picks are often expected to contribute right out of the gate, even when they're not starters. Of course, things weren't any different with the No. 25 pick, more so with the way he's turned heads since he arrived in the Windy City.
Thieneman looks like an extension of Ben Johnson on defense. He's a no-nonsense, all-business type of guy, a silent assassin, and a hard-hitting machine. With a revamped defensive backfield, having him ready to contribute right off the bat will be paramount for this team.
The Bears lost Coby Bryant, their biggest offseason addition, to a major knee injury before Week 1. Kevin Byard II, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Jaquan Brisker are all gone, and DB coach Al Harris is facing a tall ask to help defensive coordinator Dennis Allen keep his job.
That's why landing a rookie who plays and handles himself like a rookie is such a big win. Fans, analysts, and even Bears decision-makers always knew he was a steal, and those who paid attention to the preseason can now finally agree on that.
Thieneman's physicality in the box should provide a big boost to a defense that gave up the sixth-most rushing yards last season (2,287). However, he's much more than just a strong safety; he can also excel in coverage, and his elite burst and sideline-to-sideline speed should give the Bears a Swiss Army-type of weapon to get creative with.
He didn't need to play much in the first dress rehearsals to show that he's was ready to roll. Now, the 24 teams that were on the clock before Ryan Poles made that call will certainly regret not giving him a closer look.
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This article was originally published on www.dawindycity.com as Dillon Thieneman's preseason confirmed what Bears fans knew all along .
