Chicago Bears fans went to bed happy to see that their team landed one of the top defensive backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, as it all lined up perfectly for general manager Ryan Poles.
With the 25th overall pick of the draft, the Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. It was a move popular among the fan base and one everyone was hoping to see. Poles explained at his press conference why the team selected Thieneman.
“This was a really cool opportunity where the (positional) need and best player available fell to us,” Poles said via The Score's Chris Emma.
Ryan Poles is happy about getting Dillon Thieneman, and he should be
Poles have every right to be excited about landing Thieneman, especially since he wasn't even supposed to be there. Most mock drafts have him going to their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, or sooner, but Ohio State's Caleb Downs was the only safety picked within the first 24 selections before Thieneman.
The Bears aren't going to ponder on it as they are counting themselves lucky they landed on a great talent. Thieneman was a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection last season as he had 92 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack for the Ducks.
Chicago had a need at safety after losing Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker in free agency, and needed a sidekick for free agent signing Coby Bryant. Thieneman seems to match the style of play needed for the Bears' defense, serving as a lethal weapon in pass coverage and run-stopping.
Read more: Bears fans are still laughing at Vikings for passing on Dillon Thieneman
This defense in the Windy City is already looking a lot better after the Thieneman selection, making Poles look like a genius. Now, what Poles does on Day 2 could determine even further how good this roster can be for a potential Super Bowl run in 2026.