What scouts, coaches, and executives said about the Chicago Bears draft class

TL;DR

Scouts and executives provided insights into the Chicago Bears' draft strategy, highlighting their interest in cornerback Colton Hood and safety Dillon Thieneman. The Bears considered trading up but ultimately decided to stick with their No. 25 pick.

Key points

Bears considered trading up in the second round
Colton Hood was a high priority for the Bears
Dillon Thieneman was selected with the No. 25 pick

Chicago BearsTennesseeColton HoodDillon Thieneman

Sep 14, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg (99) rushes the passer against the Virginia Military Institute Keydets in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently published an article with intel gathered about all 32 draft classes from various scouts, coaches, and executives around the League. He shared two Chicago Bears nuggets he learned from his sources. One was about a first-round backup plan that the Bears contemplated on day two, while the other was about a day three selection.

“The Bears eyed a trade-up in the second round but chose to stand pat,” Fowler wrote. “They were high on Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, who went No. 37 to the Giants. Chicago figured its No. 25 pick, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, would be gone in the top 20, so perhaps Hood would’ve been a viable fallback option there if Thieneman was off the board.”

Zack Pearson, who is on the Bears’ beat for the Bear Report, confirmed that Chicago did have Hood “high on their board,” while adding that Hood “was 100% an option at 25 if Thieneman wasn’t there.”

You’ll get no complaints from me about Thieneman at 25, though I’m also a fan of what I’ve seen of Hood.

Q&A

What did the Chicago Bears consider for their first-round pick?

The Bears contemplated a trade-up in the second round for cornerback Colton Hood, who was a fallback option if safety Dillon Thieneman was unavailable.

Who did the Bears draft in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with their No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Why did the Bears not trade up in the draft?

The Bears chose to stand pat because they believed safety Dillon Thieneman would be gone in the top 20, and they had Colton Hood as a viable option if he was available.