Bears GM Ryan Poles opens up on anxiety in first round of NFL draft

TL;DR

Bears GM Ryan Poles expressed anxiety during the 2026 NFL Draft as the team awaited their No. 25 pick. Chicago selected safety Dillon Thieneman, a choice that addressed a significant defensive need.

Key points

Bears GM Ryan Poles felt anxious during the draft.
Chicago selected Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick.
The team aimed to strengthen their defense in the draft.
Thieneman was expected to be picked earlier by other teams.

Dillon ThienemanChicago BearsNFL Draft 2026

Bears GM Ryan Poles opens up on anxiety in first round of NFL draft

In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears waited patiently as their turn with the No. 25 selection came up, as other teams were busy maneuvering around the board with trades.

Coming into the draft, the Bears were widely expected to address their defense with their first round pick, whether it was on the defensive line or in the secondary, primarily at safety, which is where they went selecting Dillon Thieneman.

Many mock drafts leading up to the draft had expected Thieneman to be long gone before the Bears' selection in the first round came up, and if they wanted to go get him, a trade would be required. That was not the case, and general manager Ryan Poles recently spoke about the anxious moments that were there watching the board fall, ultimately giving Chicago one of the top players on their board, while also fulfilling a big need on their roster.