The Chicago Bears have lost quite a few players after enjoying a breakout campaign in 2025. As a result, that made the 2026 NFL Draft very important for general manager Ryan Poles and the rest of the front office. On Thursday night, the Bears kicked off their work in the draft by selecting Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 overall pick.
After losing key members of the secondary like Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright this offseason, shoring up this position was a key goal for Chicago. To be able to do so by having Thieneman, who was not expected to be available at this pick, fall right into their lap only makes things sweeter for the Bears, and it sounds like Poles already has big plans for the Bears’ new star defender.
Ryan Poles Dishes on Bears’ Dillon Thieneman Plans
While Caleb Downs was widely considered the best safety prospect in this draft class, Thieneman was a close second. After spending the first two years of his collegiate career with the Purdue Boilermakers, Thieneman transferred to Oregon in 2025, and promptly turned in another stellar season, racking up 96 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and five pass breakups in 15 games of action.
Even with Downs falling to the Dallas Cowboys at the No. 11 pick, Thieneman wasn’t expected to be on the board still when the Bears were on the clock with the No. 25 pick. Once that happened, that made the decision for Poles and the rest of Chicago’s draft room easy, as it managed to add the best player available, who also filled a key position of need for the team.
Thieneman will find himself joining a safety room that looks very different from last season. With a starting job up for grabs, Thieneman is going to be in the hunt for a big role with his new team right from the get-go, and according to Poles, it already sounds like he will have the inside track when it comes to winning this gig.
“He’s gonna have the ability to come in and compete for a starting role,” Poles said of Thieneman. “Obviously, that’s gonna be an open spot where those guys are gonna compete, and the tape tells us he’s gonna have a really good opportunity to do that.”
Ryan Poles, Bears Still Have a Lot of Work to Do in 2026 NFL Draft
GettyBears general manager Ryan Poles.
The biggest pick of the draft has been made for Chicago, but it will remain busy throughout the next two days of the action. While the Bears only have three picks on Day 3, they also have three picks on Day 2, including two in the second round. That means the Bears will have a great opportunity to add another couple of players who could be immediate contributors next season.
Thieneman will carry the biggest expectations of the bunch, and while Poles is clearly thrilled to have brought him to town, he still has quite a bit of work to do. Chicago currently owns the No. 57 and No. 60 picks in the second round, and the No. 89 pick in the third round, meaning all eyes will be on the team to see what it does with its next slate of selections.
Bears’ Ryan Poles Reveals Plan for First Round Pick Dillon Thieneman