The Chicago Bears have yet to convince the public at large that they are satisfied with their pass rush. The Bears do not have to search to find a believer in first-round draft pick Dillon Thieneman.
There is also intel suggesting that Thieneman was a long shot in the Bears’ eyes.
He is stepping into a void after the Bears parted with Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III. He joins free agent signing Coby Bryant in the revamped defensive backfield.
Bears Get Strong Words on Dillon Thieneman
Rival Executive Praises Bears’ Dillon Thieneman
The Athletic’s Mike Sando noted an unnamed rival executive questioned whether the Bears “should have traded up” in Round 1 for an EDGE. Sando noted the Los Angeles Chargers (Akheem Mesidor/22nd) and Dallas Cowboys (Malachi Lawrence/23rd) beat them to the punch.
The latter did so via a trade up.
However, that same executive also lauded Thieneman in his “unfiltered” comments, whom the Bears landed with the 25th overall pick.
“The safety is going to be a good player,” the unnamed executive said, per Sando on May 1. “We were high on him. He is ball savvy, has some versatility from a blitz and coverage standpoint.”
The Bears were always high on Thieneman.
Even with their apparent needs up front, where sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg was their only addition in the draft, Thieneman essentially fell into their lap.
“Chicago figured its No. 25 pick, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, would be gone in the top 20,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on April 29, noting the Bears had interest in now-New York Giants cornerback and second-round pick Colton Hood if the safety was not available.
The Bears, per Fowler, also eyed a trade up, but that was in Round 2, not the opener.
The Bears are banking on their injured players from 2025 on the edge–plus interior additions from this offseason–to right their ship up front. The group was far too porous last season.
They need their secondary, featuring another group of previously injured (or otherwise maligned) players at cornerback to give their front more time, too, and Bryant and Thieneman were added to do just that.
Bears Get High Marks for 2 Other Draft Picks
The rest of the Bears’ draft class was quite functional. Second-round pick Logan Jones and tight end Sam Roush–the first of two third-round selections, both drawing attention ahead of rookie minicamp.
Another unnamed exec said Jones and trade pickup Garrett Bradbury are the “same guy,” calling them “undersized, tough technicians.”
The Bears took heat for selecting Roush, but were actually following a trend.
“Chicago was really good in the run game this past year, and to get Roush to play tight end, damn, they are going to be able to run some strong-side runs,” said a third unnamed executive, per Fowler. “This guy can block all the defensive ends.”
The Bears need Jones to be the long-term replacement for retired Pro Bowler Drew Dalman. Bradbury will serve as a stopgap for as long as necessary.
Roush replaces Durham Smythe (Baltimore Ravens) as the Bears’ third, primarily blocking TE.
In the end, teams’ draft classes–and by extension, front offices–are judged heavily by the success of their first-round picks. That puts the onus on Thieneman for the Bears heading into the 2026 campaign.
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