No one in the Windy City is going to argue against the Chicago Bears selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
All signs are pointing towards the versatile defensive back as being one of the best in the draft and a steal for the Bears. The team's director of college scouting, Breck Ackley, spoke with the media, sharing his thoughts on Thieneman and what he sees in his game, on and off the field.
"Versatility. Football character. I mean really checked every box along the way. He goes to the combine, he blows it up. He matches what he shows on film. You get a chance to meet him, talk to him at the combine, and he is an all-football guy. Everything that you felt when you met him matched what the school said - both Purdue and Oregon. So it was just one of those deals where he checked every single box, and there were really by the end of the process, no question about him. Obviously, it lined up."
Everyone is loving the Dillon Thieneman selection for Bears
Thieneman had a great season in Oregon last year, racking up 92 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack. He was named as an All-American and All-Big Ten selection after proving to be one of the top safeties in the nation.
The Bears are getting a guy who can truly do it all. Thieneman is everything the Bears were hoping to have in Jaquan Brisker, but never fully got. Some of Thieneman's skill sets include consistently tackling, making plays on the ball, and using his blazing speed to create turnovers.
Thieneman showed off that speed at the NFL Combine, running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, with only three other defensive backs faster. He's got the athleticism that this secondary needs.
Read more: Ryan Poles opened up about how Bears almost blew it with Dillon Thieneman pick
The Bears know how good they got it with Thieneman falling to them, so they are going to embrace him being on the team.
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