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The Chicago Bears selected Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking a significant steal. He is expected to enhance the Bears' defense due to his versatility and pairing with Coby Bryant.

Bears Round 1 steal Dillon Thieneman is also a perfect fit for 2 reasons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Bears didn't move up or down in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they were able to get a fantastic player in Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon.
While safeties aren't highly valued by the NFL, Thieneman was still a major steal at No. 25 overall. But the new Bears defensive back provides a lot more than just great value at this pick.
As ESPN's Matt Bowen made the case for, Thieneman is a perfect fit for the Bears' defense. But why? The new Bears safety isn't just a value; he is a perfect fit thanks to two main reasons: his pairing with Coby Bryant and his versatility.
"With Thieneman and free agent signee Coby Bryant, coordinator Dennis Allen now has two interchangeable safeties with strong ball skills," Bowen writes. "Specifically, Thieneman's speed and range to track the ball deep give Allen more flexibility in the game plan to move late or disguise from two-high shells."
Being able to pair Thieneman with Bryant is a huge plus for Dennis Allen's defense, as the pairing of and last year was a resounding success.
Dillon Thieneman was considered a steal because he was selected at No. 25 overall, a high value for a safety, and he brings significant defensive capabilities.
Thieneman fits into the Bears' defensive scheme due to his versatility and his ability to pair effectively with Coby Bryant.
The two main reasons Thieneman is a perfect fit for the Bears are his versatility and his potential synergy with teammate Coby Bryant.

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Bryant and Thieneman are an upgrade over Byard and Brisker, as the new safety duo is more athletic and game-changing defensive backs than last year's duo.
The other noteworthy reason why Thieneman will be a perfect fit is that Allen now has a very versatile safety at his disposal.
Not only is the former Oregon safety capable of covering deep when needed, but he is also able to get closer to the line of scrimmage and play underneath coverage.
The combination of Thieneman's pairing with Bryant in the secondary and his versatility that Allen can take advantage of is why the new Bears safety is a perfect fit for their defense.