Chicago Bears rookie first-round pick Dillon Thieneman is stepping into a tremendous opportunity, but one that comes with significant expectations.
No one should expect him to replicate Kevin Byard’s league-leading 7 interceptions or be the big hitter that Jaquan Brisker was over the past four seasons. However, the Bears do hope and expect that he could help provide more play-to-play consistency.
A new prediction would see Thieneman join rarified air in Bears history.
Bears’ Dillon Thieneman Gets Promising Stat Prediction
Dillon Thieneman Expected to Post ‘Solid’ Numbers
ESPN’s Mike Clay projected 82 tackles and 1.8 interceptions for Thieneman in his first NFL season, grouping the Bears rookie with Dallas Cowboys counterpart Caleb Downs.
“The most tackles by a rookie safety over the past decade is 147 by Jalen Pitre in 2022. Only 12 others reached 80 during that span, with three hitting 100,” Clay wrote on May 19, predicting rookie stat leaders at every position. “First-rounders Downs and Thieneman are positioned as every-down starters in Dallas and Chicago, respectively. Both should put up solid tackle numbers in Year 1.
As for the picks, Clay wrote, “These always seem super low, but that’s intentional. Rookies have combined to average 41.7 interceptions per season over the past decade, including 37 last season. They have combined for fewer than 40 INTs in five of the past seven seasons, and first-rounders have combined for 13 picks over the past three seasons.
“Only six rookies have had five interceptions over the past decade, with Riq Woolen (six) the only player to exceed that number. Last season, Xavier Watts (five INTs) led all rookies and Denzel Burke (three) was the only other one with more than two.”
He noted a “wide-open” depth chart giving Thieneman and others “an immediate starting path.”
The Bears signed Coby Bryant as a positional replacement for Byard, but they will use him and Thieneman interchangeably this coming season.
Dillon Thieneman Could Join Bears Legends
Assuming Thieneman proves he deserves to start over veteran free agent signing Cam Lewis, and checks off the boxes Clay created, he would etch his name among several prominent figures in Bears franchise history.
He would be the 10th Bears rookie to record at least 80 total stops, and the ninth to do so while also recording at least 1 INT, per Stathead.
Five other Bears DBs have done it, including Brisker and current cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Bears great Mark Carrier and Mike Brown are also on the list, as are legends Brian Urlacher and Charles Tillman, and former Bear Roquan Smith, now of the Baltimore Ravens. The 2026 Bears would love to get impact like any of those players from Thieneman.
There is a long way to go before the start of the regular season, let alone the end of it, for Thieneman and the Bears to get through, though.
Thieneman and the Bears will begin OTAs on May 27.
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