Bears' critical offseason decision might end up paying off big time

This offseason for the Chicago Bears was filled with decisions that were made and one that never got to the finish one.

Many Bears fans criticized the fact that general manager Ryan Poles did nothing about the edge rusher room. At the same time, there were still some great moves that Poles made.

He didn't leave the defense untouched as he added some key pieces with veterans Coby Bryant and Devin Bush coming in to help the unit out. One other move that was made might be the one almost guarantee that works out for the Bears.

How Dillon Thieneman's selection in the NFL Draft will work for the Bears

Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame examined everything within the Bears' offseason to prepare for a potential Super Bowl run in 2026. Verderame really liked the Bears picking Thieneman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as he feels the move can work.

"Thieneman will make mistakes, but he will also bring athleticism at 201 pounds while running a 4.35 40-yard dash. A second-team All-American, the Purdue and Oregon product started 39 games over the past three years while grabbing eight interceptions, including six in 2023.

Thieneman will be paired with Coby Bryant, who should be a voice of thoughtfulness and experience from the champion Seahawks. Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million contract in March, giving Chicago a free safety who can roam in center field while also playing in the box. Last year, Bryant played 177 snaps in the box with six regular-season games of double-digit snaps there.

Bryant will be stepping in for Jaquan Brisker, who left after his rookie deal expired. Brisker was an impact player at times but also struggled to stay healthy, missing 16 games. He’s also struggled to make the splash plays, never notching more than one interception in a season with one total forced fumble over the past two years."

The versatility that Thieneman brings is something the Bears have not had on their defense in quite some time. He already showed at OTAs what the fan base can expect after "sacking" Caleb Williams and making plays on the ball.

Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has a true weapon on his defense as he can put him in the box to stop the run and rush the passer as well as drop him back into coverage. This will be beneficial for Chicago as well in the secondary as Bryant is more of a playmaker in the passing game, so the two safeties are going to be able to play off of each other well.

Thieneman could end up being one of the best picks in the NFL and someone who will make an immediate impact on the Bears' defense. This is a guy that is going to be a dangerous player in the league for a long time.

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