The Chicago Bears used the 2026 NFL draft to upgrade the secondary, as they nabbed safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick. That was a need for this team after they allowed Kevin Byard, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Jaquan Brisker to walk in free agency.
Signing Coby Bryant filled in one void for this team, but the addition of Thieneman can't go under the radar. And from early reports, he's already making a positive impact on the team. ESPN's Courtney Cronin revealed that Thieneman is making plays both on and off the field.
"Thieneman worked his way into first-team reps during mandatory minicamp while spending the spring learning Dennis Allen's defense. Thieneman has been a sponge, particularly with his teammates in the secondary, and soaked up as much knowledge as he could from fellow safeties Coby Bryant and Elijah Hicks, the latter of whom will push him for playing time. The Bears were drawn to Thieneman for his speed and versatility, two attributes he displayed this spring."
With pads set to come on when training camp starts in late July, it seems like Thieneman will be ready to hit the ground running, which is huge for Chicago's defense.
It didn't take long for Dillon Thieneman to impress the Bears
With Bryant penciled in as a starter at one safety spot for this team, the other spot will need to be earned. And Thieneman has the skill set to take that job by the horns. As Cronin pointed out, his versatility can't go under the radar.
Over his last two collegiate seasons with Oregon and Purdue, Thieneman logged 200-plus snaps in the box and at free safety. He even played 100-plus snaps in the slot. He's someone who doesn't have a problem wearing multiple hats, and he's been able to excel at them.
Entering the league, some of his strengths are his play recognition skills, ability to flip his hips in any direction, and being an effective tackler when attacking downhill in the run game. He isn't afraid of contact, and that's something that will be loved in Chicago.
He has all the physical tools teams want in a safety, but now it's on the mental aspect catching up. The Indiana native is doing everything in his power to kick things up a notch in that area. If he's able to fully grasp things there and not look overwhelmed in any way, the starter job will be his.
Read more: What could go right (and wrong) with Bears' inconsistent defense in 2026?
In 39 college games, he finished with 306 total tackles, 14 pass deflections, 10 TFLs, and eight interceptions. When watching the film, Chicago saw the impact that Thieneman brings to the table, and from the early reports, he has already flashed for this team. That makes things even more exciting going into this campaign.
Add us as a preferred source on Google