The Chicago Bears did a lot of work on their defense during the offseason, with the biggest move being to sign safety Coby Bryant to a three-year, $40 million deal.
Bryant is expected to take over for All-Pro Kevin Byard in the secondary, with rookie first-round pick Dillon Thieneman replacing Jaquan Brisker. While appearing on the NFL Network's "The Insiders," Bryant shared his thoughts on what he has seen from Thieneman on tape and in person.
"Yeah, just watching the film on him, obviously, him coming out, he's a great player, but you know, right now he's a rookie, so he's not really saying too much, which is a good and a bad thing too," Bryant said. "But, I'm excited to be able to play with him, and I know he's going to help this team tremendously, and we look forward to being playing together for sure."
Coby Bryant is ready for his new partner in crime to work well with him
The Bears have their safety position set up nicely for at least the next three years. Bryant and Thieneman are perfect complements to each other.
Thieneman can be a disruptor from the box or in coverage, as his versatility gives him an advantage over most of the defensive backs that came out of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bryant will be able to do more damage in pass coverage, as he has good instincts for reading the offense and acting on it.
While Byard and Brisker were turnover machines in the secondary throughout the last few years, they were wildly inconsistent in pass coverage. Bryant and Thieneman should help with that, as they may create fewer turnovers, but they will allow fewer yards, which was a massive problem for this Bears defense last year.
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Chicago fans should be excited to see what they have out of their new safeties, as it feels as though the 2026 season will hopefully see an improvement on defense because of Bryant and Thieneman.