The Chicago Bears went straight for speed and versatility with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, snagging rangy Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The move adds a multi-purpose weapon to a secondary that has been reshaped this offseason, and the former Purdue transfer was all smiles as he walked out of the green room after hearing his name called.
In their draft report the Bears highlighted Thieneman's durability and ability to line up all over the back end across three college seasons, noting he can work in the box or drop into a center-field role, according to ChicagoBears.com. The 6-foot, 201-pound safety appeared in 39 college games and piled up the kind of tackles and turnovers NFL teams covet. Team analysts pointed to his instincts and football IQ as reasons he could handle meaningful snaps sooner rather than later.
Combine Explosion Turned Heads
Thieneman locked in his first-round buzz at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he clocked an official 4.35-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 41-inch vertical jump during testing in Indianapolis. He told reporters he had a specific target for that 40 time, saying, "My goal is to get to 4.3," and then delivered on that mark on the turf, per NFL.com. Those numbers helped push him firmly into the late first-round mix for teams in search of a hybrid safety who can both cover and work near the line of scrimmage.
Filling A Clear Need
Chicago's front office made the pick with a specific vacancy in mind. The Bears lost multiple starters from their safety group earlier in the offseason, which sent them hunting for speed and range to pair with new signee Coby Bryant. The Associated Press noted the team had moved on from veterans and later brought in Bryant on a multi-year deal, leaving a realistic path for a rookie to battle for early playing time, as reported by The Washington Post. Draft watchers quickly slotted Thieneman as a clean fit for Chicago's scheme because of his blend of run support and coverage work.
Scouts Liked The Mix Of Grit And Range
Scouts and local beat writers consistently pointed to Thieneman's playmaking on film, noting his key moments during Oregon's road wins, including the Oct. 18, 2025 game in Piscataway. His physical edge showed up in his college work in the box and again in his Combine testing. The selection sparked immediate reaction from Chicago media and fans, with local coverage casting the move as a high-upside solution to a pressing defensive issue, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The next phase comes in offseason workouts and training camp, where Thieneman will get his first extended on-field time with the Bears coaching staff.
Expect Thieneman to be in the thick of the competition for snaps right away and to be a frequent storyline as Chicago blends veterans and rookies on the back end. For a team chasing a quick follow-up to last season's NFC North title, the pick hands the Bears another young, athletic chess piece on defense.
