Bears' Dillon Thieneman ranked just outside of ESPN's top-10 best picks of 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Bears came into the 2026 NFL Draft with a few needs on both sides of the ball, with offensive line, defensive line, and the safety room as the clear top needs.

Leading up to the draft, Chicago's safety position was typically resolved on Day 2. But in the actual draft, Dillon Thieneman slid down the board and was a complete steal at No. 25 overall.

ESPN's Matt Miller ranked the top-100 best selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, and this pick from the Bears of Thieneman was ranked just outside of the top-10 best picks at 11th overall.

"GM Ryan Poles added Coby Bryant in free agency, but safety was a glaring hole we knew would get addressed in the draft, too," Miller writes. What we didn't know was that Thieneman would slip to them at no. 25."

Being able to stick and pick and get Thieneman was something that, before the draft, seemed impossible. He had been routinely mocked well ahead of the 25th pick.

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The Minnesota Vikings at No. 18 and the Carolina Panthers at No. 19 overall were two teams strongly linked to Thieneman. And the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles at No. 20 and No. 23 overall also could've gone Thieneman.

But, the board fell in a great way for the Bears, as they were able to take the Oregon safety, getting one of the top safeties in the class much later than he was expected to go.

This value, combined with the Bears' clear need at the position, made this selection a fantastic one for the Bears, ranking 11th on Miller's top-100 pick ranking.

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