The Chicago Bears welcomed seven new rookies to the roster during the 2026 NFL Draft, which included first-round safety Dillon Thieneman, who was considered a steal at 25th overall.
Chicago also added some new offensive pieces for Ben Johnson with center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush and wide receiver Zavion Thomas, while adding some new defensive players in cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. While it's not the flashiest class, it's one assembled by Johnson and GM Ryan Poles that one analyst believes will be the thing to get the Bears to the Super Bowl.
Over the next few days, our Bears Wire staff will be sharing their thoughts about the 2026 rookie class. First up: Our favorite draft pick, where there's one overwhelming winner.
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den Berg1 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)1 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)2 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones3 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush4 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas5 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad6 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott7 / 7Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den BergAlyssa Barbieri: S Dillon ThienemanNo one expected Dillon Thieneman to be available for the Bears at 25th overall, and yet, the best case scenario unfolded and Chicago landed one of the biggest steals of the first round. Not only did the Thieneman selection address a need at safety opposite free-agent addition Coby Bryant, but it was incredibly great value for the second best -- or according to some, the best -- safety in this draft class in the back half of the first round. And considering there was a massive wave of trades after Chicago selected Thieneman at No. 25, it's safe to say he was a coveted prospect.
Thieneman is a versatile safety who possesses impressive speed (running a 4.35 40-yard dash) and is one of the best tackles in this class. He has elite instincts, speed and playmaking ability that should make him a difference maker in Dennis Allen's defense. In one offseason, the Bears have revamped the secondary with their new starting safeties in Thieneman and Bryant, who are speedy playmakers who should help elevate the defense as a whole.
It’s always nice when one of the best players available coincides with a significant team need. It’s a win-win and is the main reason why Dillon Thieneman is my favorite pick of the draft. Thieneman can do it all in the secondary, whether he’s flying in to break up a would-be catch or meeting ball carriers on the line of scrimmage to deliver convincing blows. Thieneman’s stats are nice (300+ tackles, 14 pass breakups, and eight interceptions across three seasons), but his intangibles are his best traits.
Previous Bears safeties have shown excellent instincts, while others have been pure athletes. Thieneman is both. And with his ability to play inside and outside the box, as well as some nickel corner, the versatility factor is something fans should be excited about. Dennis Allen’s secondary now features three versatile starting defensive backs in Thieneman, Coby Bryant, and Kyler Gordon. The rookie is in good hands and should quickly become an anchor alongside these veterans.
Continuing the theme with this selection, Dillon Thieneman was not expected to be available to the Bears with the 25th overall selection, which was why I was pounding the table for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who became a second round pick. Thieneman is everything that the Bears need in one of the most important gaps on the roster, the starting safety position opposite of Coby Bryant. When the front office and coaching staff laid out what they wanted to achieve this offseason by upgrading the speed and coverage skills on defense, they achieved that by bringing in both Bryant and now Thieneman.
Chicago’s offense was so much fun to watch this past season, but the defense could be quite aggravating with their inability to stop big plays. The big benefit helping the Bears defense last season was leading the league in takeaways, but they were too vulnerable when they weren’t capitalizing on mistakes by opponents. A new look secondary should certainly help turn around their defensive fortunes, and Thieneman could be a darkhorse candidate for Defensive Rookie Of the Year under Dennis Allen.
Dillon Thieneman, who the Chicago Bears drafted with the 25th overall pick, is going to be the consensus favorite pick amongst most people when evaluating the Chicago Bears’ 206 NFL Draft class. He was a sensational player in college, and he has all of the tools to be even better in the NFL.
Most draft evaluators didn’t have Thieneman getting to the Bears at 25. A lot of people thought he may go to the division rival Minnesota Vikings at 18, if he even made it to them. They passed, and then it became a real possibility that the Bears would get him.
Thieneman fills a position of need, he fits the young and athletic culture that the Bears are building under Ben Johnson, and he will be their day one starter right away as long as he is healthy. The rest of the draft has its question marks, but this was a home run selection.
It was a surprise to see Dillon Thieneman available at No. 25 even for Ryan Poles and Bears. But it fills an immediate need and he’s likely the week1 starter opposite of Coby Bryant. He is versatile, smart, brings lots of speed and hopefully plays out 10 plus years in Chicago.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL draft: Favorite Chicago Bears pick from the 2026 rookie class