The Chicago Bears struck gold on opening night of the 2026 NFL draft, selecting versatile Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman — an excellent defensive scheme fit at a core position of need — with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round.
The Bears had a clear need at safety after letting both of their starters, Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker, walk out the door during March’s free agency period. While they signed veteran Coby Bryant to a three-year, $40 million contract to replace one of them, they needed another starter to pair with him, making Thieneman a dream selection.
With their safety need now addressed, though, the Bears must shift their focus to their defensive line when the second round of the draft begins at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night.
An edge rusher or defensive tackle — or both — could suit the Bears in the second round with two selections (Nos. 57 and 60) in their possession. They could also stand to add more depth at wide receiver, linebacker, center, offensive tackle and cornerback.
Here are the best fits from the remaining players for the Bears on Day 2:
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
GettyFormer Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker.
Some had penciled in Parker for the Bears at No. 25, indicating that they may need to trade up for him if they wanted him in the second round. Then again, Thieneman was also supposed to go earlier than he did, so maybe the board could favor Chicago twice.
Parker is a bull rusher off the edge who has powerful hands and the versatility to slide inside, which may prove useful for Dennis Allen’s defense. He is also a high-floor run defender with a relentless motor who can immediately raise the quality of Chicago’s defensive line, which allowed the sixth most rushing yards in the league in 2025.
Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
GettyFormer Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas.
While Parker might wind up too ambitious for the Bears, Jacas could fall right into their hands at No. 57 overall in the second round if they choose the patient route on Day 2.
Jacas was a four-year starter for the Illini who brought violence and ferocity off the edge and bullied his way into collapsing pockets with his ex-wrestler hands. He improved his pass-rushing production in each season, finishing with 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and 41 pressures in 2025. He is also a football-first guy who is a workhorse both on the field during his reps and in the training room with his teammates. Jacas can raise the bar for a Chicago defense that had the second-worst pass-rush win rate in the league last year.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
GettyFormer Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
If Thieneman falling to the Bears at No. 25 was the first-round dream, then Rodriguez slipping to them in the second round — or within trade-up range — is the Day 2 dream.
The Bears signed veteran Devin Bush to replace Tremaine Edmunds (released) and brought back D’Marco Jackson and Jack Sanborn in free agency for depth, but the long-term plan at the position is muddled at best. Starter T.J. Edwards will return with two years left on his contract, but he had an injury-marred 2025 season and turns 30 in August. Reinforcements could wait, but they should not if Rodriguez falls into range.
Rodriguez, who received first-round buzz, is one of the best off-ball linebackers in the class. He has an excellent sense of the field with playmaking instincts to match, making him a dynamic asset whether he is attacking at the line of scrimmage or dropping into zone for pass coverage. He is also a student in the art of the Peanut Punch, racking up 13 career forced fumbles in college. Hill could make an immediate impact in Chicago.
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
GettyFormer Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
It is unclear whether Hill has a greater chance of falling than Rodriguez. After all, ESPN and other “Best Available” boards rank Hill above his Texas Tech counterpart.
If the Bears want an impact linebacker, though, Hill would be a fine selection at either pick in the second round. He is a high-end athlete with good size (6-foot-2, 238 pounds) and the right amount of lateral quickness to make plays from sideline to sideline. He also wore the green dot during his final two seasons playing middle linebacker at Texas, tallying 182 total tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and three picks during that span.
While the Bears might rather address their defensive line during the second round, Hill could offer their defense a potential three-down starter for the long-term future.
Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
GettyFormer Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller.
Another prospect whom analysts mocked in the first round, Miller is a strong solution to the Bears’ problem with their leaky defensive interior that struggled with consistency throughout their 2025 season. He did not have the strongest production (four sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2025), but he has a nice blend of quickness and strength and has enough athleticism for his size (6-foot-3, 328 pounds) to develop into a well-rounded one-gap penetrator, even though run defense is his strength coming into the pros.
Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
GettyFormer Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton.
Halton is a different type of player than Miller, but is perhaps an even better fit for the Bears despite only part-time starting responsibilities for the Sooners. He has incredible first-step quickness and is gifted at contorting his body to penetrate gaps and collapse rushing lanes. And while he is on the smaller side for three-technique defensive tackles (6-foot-2, 300 pounds), he is built to last with rock-solid muscle and an endless motor.
Halton also thrived in college when working as part of a regular rotation, which might put off some teams but would seem to suit Chicago’s current build with Gervon Dexter Sr., Grady Jarrett and Neville Gallimore all expected to play meaningful roles in 2026.
Logan Jones, C, Iowa
GettyFormer Iowa center Logan Jones.
The Bears lost one of their best offensive line earlier in the offseason when 2025 Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman retired just one season into his three-year, $42 million deal. Chicago shifted gears with a trade for former New England Patriots veteran Garrett Bradbury, but he only has one more season left on his contract and may not fit the long-term vision for the team on offense, which makes finding his successor a priority.
Jones would offer a solution with the upside to overtake Bradbury in his rookie season if injuries or performance hamper the veteran. He checks a lot of boxes as a pure center, possessing the ideal athleticism, strength and footwork to excel in Ben Johnson’s zone-blocking scheme (which is similar to Iowa’s). He also has the quickness to make blocks effectively at the second level, which would make him an asset for Chicago’s run game.
Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
GettyFormer North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance.
Lance might make more sense as a third-round target (No. 89) for the Bears, but a run on receivers in the second round could motivate the Bears to take one of the best deep-ball passing targets in the draft and add him to quarterback Caleb Williams‘ arsenal.
Lance was an excellent vertical threat as a two-year starter for the Bison, catching 126 passes for 2,150 yards and 25 touchdowns (with a program-record 17 touchdowns in 2024) with just five drops in those two seasons. His acceleration and ball-tracking ability make him a natural weapon in the deep field, but he also uses his size (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) and physicality to win contested grabs and gives his heart as a blocker.
The Bears wouldn’t need Lance to seize an immediate role with wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland positioned to take the reins as Williams’ most reliable trio, but his early-career background as a special teams player should get him on the field right away while he works on polishing his game.
8 Best Available Fits for Chicago Bears on Day 2 of 2026 NFL Draft