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Film study: New Bears S Dillon Thieneman a seamless fit in Chicago
TL;DR
The Chicago Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, surprising many as he was projected to go earlier. His addition is expected to significantly strengthen the Bears' secondary.
Key points
- Chicago Bears selected Dillon Thieneman with No. 25 pick
- Thieneman was projected to be picked earlier in the draft
- He is expected to strengthen the Bears' secondary
Dillon ThienemanOregonChicago Bears2026 NFL Draft
With the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
Based off the consensus, it was a surprise to see Thieneman still available with the No. 25 pick. I had him as the No. 19 player on my big board, while the PFSN expert consensus ranked him at No. 18. Nonetheless, he fell into Chicago’s laps, and with the massive turnover their secondary experienced this offseason, he projects as an impact starter in their secondary.
As I’ve done since 2019, I put together a thread involving my analysis of each Bears draft selection, sharing some clips that highlight their strengths along the way. This year is certainly no different, so here’s my quick-hit evaluation of the Bears selecting Thieneman in Round 1.
Also, if you want to see my live reaction of the Bears selecting Thieneman, you can check out the clip here from the PFSN NFL Draft livestream.
THE NUMBERS
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 201 pounds
- RAS: 9.71
- Career interceptions: 8
- Career tackles: 306
- Career tackles for a loss: 10
- Career targeted passer rating: 76.1
- Snap allocation: 1,399 as deep safety, 732 in the box, 236 in the slot
- List of accomplishments: 2025 first-team All-American, 2023 third-team All-American, 2025 first-team All-Big Ten, 2023 third-team All-Big Ten
THREAD: New #Bears safety Dillon Thieneman is incredible value at No. 25 and fits everything Dennis Allen wants in a defensive back.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 24, 2026
Dillon Thieneman is a quick processor with the ability to play all over the field.
His ability to play in the slot, the box, and as a deep safety shows on tape, and he’s a quick processor who understands his assignments in all alignments.
Q&A
Why was Dillon Thieneman still available at No. 25 in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Dillon Thieneman was projected to be picked earlier, with rankings placing him around No. 18, making his availability at No. 25 a surprise.
What impact will Dillon Thieneman have on the Chicago Bears' secondary?
Thieneman is expected to be an impact starter for the Bears' secondary, which has undergone significant turnover this offseason.
What were the consensus rankings for Dillon Thieneman before the draft?
Before the draft, Dillon Thieneman was ranked as the No. 19 player on one big board and No. 18 by the PFSN expert consensus.
