Bears earned 'elite' grade for Dillon Thieneman selection in NFL draft

TL;DR

The Chicago Bears received an 'elite' grade for selecting safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 in the 2026 NFL Draft. This pick was praised for addressing a significant need in their defense.

Key points

Bears selected Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 in the NFL Draft
Thieneman's selection received an 'elite' grade from Pro Football Focus
The pick addresses a major need in the Bears' defense

Chicago BearsDillon ThienemanCoby Bryant

Bears earned 'elite' grade for Dillon Thieneman selection in NFL draft

After the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, several experts and media networks were quick to hand out grades on how they felt teams drafted on Thursday night, including the Chicago Bears. While several teams moved around the board and traded to get into a spot that helped them land their desired player, Chicago waited for the board to fall to them and were able to come away with safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall.

The selection of Thieneman addressed a huge need for Chicago's defense, pairing the new rookie alongside free-agent signing Coby Bryant, completely remaking the safety position under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Filling a big void on their roster with one of the most talented players at the position, the Bears were praised by Pro Football Focus, who gave the Thieneman selection an "elite" grade -- just one of two picks to earn the honor.