The Bears spent the 2026 NFL draft trying to patch up a secondary that had lost Kevin Byard, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Jaquan Brisker in free agency, and their first-round answer was Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall. Early signs suggest Chicago didn’t just draft a need - it may have found a player who’s already pushing for a real role.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that Thieneman has been turning heads during the spring and working his way into first-team reps at mandatory minicamp while learning Dennis Allen’s defense. He’s also been leaning on the veterans around him.
"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."
That’s the kind of start Chicago had to like. Coby Bryant already fills one safety spot, but the other job is wide open, and Thieneman has given the Bears every reason to believe he can grab it. Training camp doesn’t arrive until late July, when the pads finally come on, but the early momentum is clearly on his side.
Versatility is the big draw here. Over his last two seasons in college with Oregon and Purdue, Thieneman played more than 200 snaps in the box and at free safety, and he also logged more than 100 snaps in the slot. That kind of range matters, especially for a defense looking for a safety who can handle multiple jobs without getting exposed.
The Bears saw more than just flexibility, though. Thieneman’s game is built on sharp recognition, quick hip movement in any direction, and a willingness to come downhill and tackle in the run game. He doesn’t shy away from contact, and that edge fits what Chicago wants on the back end.
The physical traits are there. The next step is the mental side - picking up the defense fast enough to stay ahead of the game instead of reacting to it. Thieneman has been putting in the work to get there, and if he keeps absorbing the scheme without looking overwhelmed, the starting job is there for the taking.
In 39 college games, Thieneman posted 306 total tackles, 14 pass deflections, 10 tackles for loss and eight interceptions. That production, paired with the early buzz from minicamp, is why his stock is climbing so quickly in Chicago.
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