The Chicago Bears may have landed their flashiest rookie in Dillon Thieneman, but the player who could matter most in 2026 might be Malik Muhammad.
Thieneman, the first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has already earned strong reviews in spring workouts and looks like a potential star at a position that often doesn’t get the spotlight. Even so, he isn’t the rookie who may be asked to carry the heaviest load right away in Chicago’s secondary.
That case was made by Anthony Miller of Bear Goggles On, who argued that Muhammad, the No. 124 pick out of the Texas Longhorns, is the Bears rookie with the biggest immediate burden.
"Muhammad is the most important Bears rookie on this roster because he might need to be great right away," Miller wro te, citing concerns about Tyrique Stevenson's play and Kyle Gordon's health."The Bears might turn to Muhammad as a Day 1 starter and must play well if this team wants to take the next level and get to the Super Bowl."
The logic is straightforward. Chicago already has a proven presence at safety in Coby Bryant, which should make Thieneman’s transition smoother. Safeties also aren’t usually the ones getting isolated against an opponent’s top weapon snap after snap.
Cornerback is a different story. That’s where offenses love to attack rookies, and that’s where Muhammad may be thrust into the fire.
He comes in with size for the position, plus good hops and strong ball instincts. In college, he also did a nice job limiting penalties and keeping explosive plays under control.
The jump to the NFL is a different animal, though. The competition gets sharper, and the Bears’ issues at corner could leave them with little patience for a long learning curve. If Muhammad is going to be part of the answer, Chicago may need that answer immediately.
There is help on the way in the form of coach Al Harris, who has a reputation as a DB guru. He should be able to bring out Muhammad’s ball-hawking traits and help him become a disruptive presence.
At the same time, Harris’ corners can also be aggressive gamblers who occasionally leave openings behind them. That’s not the style Muhammad showed in college, but he should benefit from being pushed toward a more complete game.
The Bears have enough offensive firepower to score with anyone, but games can turn into shootouts in a hurry, and those are never guaranteed. Getting stops remains the cleanest way to help the offense.
It’s a lot to ask of a Day 3 pick, and building too much around that kind of projection is risky. Still, whether Muhammad starts immediately or not, his arrival should raise the temperature in the cornerback room. He’s already in the conversation for a starting job, and that alone changes the picture.
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