This offseason, the Chicago Bears have a big need in the secondary with four starters departing for free agency.
While Bears general manager Ryan Poles has made it crystal clear that he wants All-Pro Kevin Byard back, the other starting safety, Jaquan Brisker, has not been a name brought up to be re-signed and could be gone in free agency. That would leave Chicago with a hole at safety that would need to be filled in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bleacher Report writer Brent Sobleski shared his two-round mock draft, which includes the perfect solution for the Bears: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
"The Chicago Bears don't have a starting safety on the roster at the moment, with Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III set to enter free agency. Even if one re-signs, safety could remain a priority. Oregon's Dillon Thieneman is an elite athlete capable of playing over the top of the defense to give the Bears an eraser along the back end."
Dillon Thieneman predicted to be drafted by the Bears in the first round
Many believe that after Thieneman ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, he would not be available to the Bears because he would be selected higher. If he did fall to Chicago, what a massive win it would be for the Bears.
Last season with the Ducks, Thieneman was a first-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten selection after racking up 92 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack. He played at Purdue his first two years in college, where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023 and was a third-team All-American that same year.
Getting Thieneman in the draft would make the Brisker decision a lot easier for Chicago, as he can be paired up with Byard and learn from him in the secondary. That would give the Bears their starting safety for the next five years.
In the second round of Sobleski's mock draft, he has the Bears taking Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller with the 57th overall pick. Miller would be a good solution to the interior issues on the Bears' line after Grady Jarrett's down year and Gervon Dexter's involvement in trade talks.
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Defense is the Bears' top priority, and adding Thieneman and Miller will help get this unit back on track in 2026.