
Dillon Thieneman, the Chicago Bears' 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is praised for his versatility and adaptability in various defensive roles. His experience at both Purdue and Oregon showcases his ability to play multiple positions effectively.
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EUGENE, OREGON - NOVEMBER 14: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Autzen Stadium on November 14, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On her latest Making Monsters podcast, Taylor Doll sat down with Ryan Roberts, who covers the NFL Draft and College Football for A to Z Sports, and he had some thoughts on the Chicago Bearsâ 2026 draft class. They kicked off the show discussing what Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman had to offer.
âThere was a need for a guy that can be a little bit diverse,â Roberts said about the 25th overall pick, âand I think that the great thing about Thieneman is heâs had experience going back to the Purdue days of playing single high free safety, where heâs playing from depth and then at Oregon he was asked to be a little bit more of like a short zone robber playing the box a whole lot more. So, heâs done a lot of different things, and then obviously he tested to kind of verify the range that we saw, especially his first couple years in college.â
âSo, itâs an interesting fit because I think that heâs a very universally liked player because he doesnât have to fit into one role, right? Like, I think that is a very interesting and important aspect of his game. Whether you are a two-high system, a single high system, whatever your preference is there, he can fit there.â
He goes on to discuss the ever-changing landscape of NFL defenses and the importance of versatile players.
âI think that when you talk about what the next evolution is defensively, Dillon Thieneman is like a bust-proof player because he can do a little bit of everything, right? Like, itâs not like you have to draft him to just play one specific position, one particular alignment. no matter where the league goes from here offensively or defensively, I think he is a universal player in terms of he can fit any system that you want to play, which I think is very valuable in todayâs game.â
Dillon Thieneman's versatility stems from his experience playing different safety roles at both Purdue and Oregon, allowing him to adapt to various defensive schemes.
In college, Dillon Thieneman showcased his skills as a single high free safety and a short zone robber, demonstrating a broad range of abilities that impressed scouts.
Expectations for Dillon Thieneman include being able to fit into multiple defensive systems, providing flexibility and depth to the Bears' secondary.


Bournemouth secured a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace, moving into sixth place and closer to European football for the first time. The win featured a controversial penalty decision and a goal from former player Jefferson Lerma.

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Taylor has had Roberts on her show before, and he really knows his stuff, so check it out in either of the embeds below for some insight into all the Bearsâ rookies.
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