Dillon Thieneman was included on list that Bears fans would place him first

Chicago Bears fans may have up and down reactions when it comes to the totality of the 2026 NFL Draft.

However, one pick that was universally praised at the time was Dillon Thieneman in the first round. It was need-meets-best-player-available and a good schematic fit.

The pick was loved not only by fans of the team but also praised in media circles as one of the best in the first round. Field Yates of ESPN broke down the best picks that he saw in the first round, outside of the top 10 picks that are obvious. He listed Thieneman to Chicago as one of the five best decisions made.

"The Bears had to remodel their entire safety room this offseason and have successfully done so with the addition of Thieneman and free agent signee Coby Bryant. Thieneman has the best ball skills in the class and can fly down into the box in run support. He should be a favorite of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen."
Field Yates

The Chicago Bears are praised for their first-round pick

It is hard to argue with anything about the pick. Thieneman was not a mock draft candidate for the Bears often because most drafts had him gone. Even the Bears' general manager, Ryan Poles, said that he did not think Thieneman would fall until a pick or two before it started to come together. So, the player is obviously a strong prospect.

He had a great tape in college, but stamped his first-round ability with a blazing 40-yard dash time and other athletic traits that stood out at the NFL Combine.

Had they taken Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first round, it would have filled the need and would have been the next safety after Thieneman, but it would not have been the same caliber of prospect.

Still, they had to address safety, and do so relatively early. They had Coby Bryant as a starter, but there was no other legitimate option listed as the team headed into the draft. Safety is a position that you can find later, but the team did not want to go into the year with a real question at the start. So, they filled that need with the best realistic option possible. That is what gives this pick such high praise.

The other picks highlighted by Yates include Vega Ioane to the Baltimore Ravens, Monroe Freeling to the Carolina Panthers, Caleb Lomu to the New England Patriots, and Omar Cooper Jr. to the New York Jets.

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