The Chicago Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, doing a world of good for the team.
With a defense that ranked in the bottom 10 in total defense last year, they get some support in the secondary that has lost several starters. Thieneman will be stepping in as the starter with hopes of helping the unit get back on track in 2026.
This move was a great one for the franchise and it's hard to pinpoint who were the winners and losers because so many in the organization won. Here's the list of winners and one loser from it.
Winner: Dennis Allen, Defensive Coordinator
Allen needed as much help as possible on defense, and the team came through. Safety was the biggest concern with both of last year's starters out the door and Coby Bryant being brought in to help. Chicago, at least, has the secondary pretty addressed, with no other positions like defensive tackle and edge rusher needing some attention.
Loser: Cam Lewis, DB
There was very slim hope that Lewis might start from Day 1 at safety, as the Bears might have gone after other positions, but Thieneman being brought in certainly changes things. Chicago needed to add Thieneman as Lewis is more of a reserve player, so while his spot on the roster should still be safe, starting will not be in his future unless injuries happen.
Winner: Ryan Poles, General Manager
Poles stuck to his guns on picking the best player available, and he got the job done. Thieneman dropped from a top-20 pick to Chicago at pick 25. The good thing was that Poles never panicked, as he didn't trade up or down, and it paid off with a great selection.
Winner: Coby Bryant, DB
Bryant won't have the pressure of doing it all himself in the secondary, as he has a good partner in crime with Thieneman. The two will be paired for at least three years together, so they will be able to build some chemistry back there the way Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker did.
Read more: Dillon Thieneman sent a fiery message Bears fans aren't going to want to ignore
Winners: Bears defensive line
If Thieneman can create as many turnovers as the Bears are hoping he will, that should really help the defensive line out in general. This was one of the worst pass-rushing units in the NFL, as they racked up 35 sacks last season, and they didn't get any help for the edge rusher group, so Thieneman only helps them out.
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