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Bears Grab Safety Dillon Thieneman With No. 25 Pick

4/30/2026

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Summary

Bears Draft Safety

Chicago Bears chose Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick in the 2026 Draft.
GM Ryan Poles secured him after he slid down the board, turning a top-10 talent into value.
The pick was ranked 11th among the 100 by Matt Miller and called a Round 1 best by Field Yates.
His 69.5 run-defense and 90.5 coverage grades meet Chicago’s safety need after Byard and Brisker left and fit Dennis Allen’s scheme.

Summary

Bears Target DE

The Bears omitted a defensive end in the 2026 draft, prompting analysts to flag the position as a top 2027 priority.
Analysts see Oregon defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei—16.5 sacks in two seasons—as a likely Chicago target with a projected No. 18 pick in 2027.
Chicago signed 13 undrafted free agents, six in the top-12 on NFL.com’s Chad Reuter list, including quarterback Miller Moss and offensive tackle Caden Barnett.

History

Historical Context

In 1992 the Dallas Cowboys used a second-round pick acquired in the Herschel Walker trade to select safety Darren Woodson 37th overall, a move that helped a defense win Super Bowl XXVII two seasons later. The 2026 Chicago Bears, guided by GM Ryan Poles and DC Dennis Allen, echoed that strategy by drafting safety Dillon Thieneman in the mid-rounds to shore up a depleted secondary.

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Bears Draft Safety

Chicago Bears chose Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick in the 2026 Draft.
GM Ryan Poles secured him after he slid down the board, turning a top-10 talent into value.
The pick was ranked 11th among the 100 by Matt Miller and called a Round 1 best by Field Yates.
His 69.5 run-defense and 90.5 coverage grades meet Chicago’s safety need after Byard and Brisker left and fit Dennis Allen’s scheme.

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