The Chicago Bears used this offseason to make some additions to the roster, and a big one came via the NFL draft. They took safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick, and from the early reports, he had already turned heads.
Training camp is the next step, and Thieneman needs to make sure he takes full advantage of what's in front of him. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox released an article discussing the outlook for all 32 first-round rookies.
Regarding Thieneman, Knox thinks he'll compete for the starting strong safety job. And when you look at the depth chart, the Oregon product needs to take this spot by the horns.
Dillon Thieneman must seize this chance gifted by Bears
Coby Bryant is the only other safety on the team who is locked into a starting job. He got a $40 million deal in free agency and comes from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. That means the spot next to him is up for grabs, and Thieneman needs to snag it.
During minicamp, he was already getting snaps with the first team. His speed and versatility were two things that immediately caught people's attention. Thieneman has a great feel in the run game and isn't scared to attack downhill.
Meanwhile, he can be a rangy ball hawk over the top (eight collegiate interceptions). Those traits are what made him a first-round pick and should give him the edge in this battle.
Elijah Hicks and Cam Lewis are the two other names in the strong safety room who will compete with the rookie. Hicks has been in Chicago for the past four seasons but has served as a rotational piece. In 61 games (15 starts), he has logged 122 total tackles, three pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
As for Lewis, he was another depth piece through six years with the Buffalo Bills. In 76 career games (14 starts), he totaled 166 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and one pick. Both Hicks and Lewis are solid depth options, but they don't have the ceiling that Thieneman provides.
With pads coming on in just a few weeks, it will take practice to another level. How Thieneman performs in these sessions, along with the preseason, will go a long way in him securing the starting job. The Bears didn't use their first pick in the 2026 draft on him for no reason.
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They clearly believe in what he can become, and now it's up to him to prove the team right for their decision.
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