Dillon Thieneman continues to be a name to watch as a possible Chicago Bears first-round target in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Bears are a team with plenty of needs, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. And while plucking a defensive lineman might be the ideal move in the eyes of fans, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs has the team going in a different direction in his first mock draft.
Instead of taking a defensive tackle (such as Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald or Clemson’s Peter Woods) or a defensive end (Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell), Biggs sends Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman to the Bears. Here is his explanation:
Edge rusher looms as the greatest need, and Zion Young would be a really interesting fit for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen if he’s available. If not, Thieneman is very intriguing if available as the Bears would have a dynamic young player to pair with Coby Bryant.
This isn’t the first time Dillon Thieneman has been on our radar as a possible Bears target in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Back in January, long-time NFL Draft insider Daniel Jeremiah pegged Thieneman to go to Chicago in his first mock draft. The initial reaction to that post from a vocal segment of Bears fans wasn’t too positive. But the conversation around the Oregon prospect seemed to change when he performed well at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. With that in mind, I will be curious to see the feedback on Biggs’ mock draft.
I also find it interesting that Biggs name-checked Zion Young. The Mizzou edge rusher prospect was Chicago’s selection in the most recent Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN mock draft exercise. Seeing multiple insiders come up with the same names is useful information as we try to build out an accurate target list for the Bears based on what reporters in the trenches have to say.
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesBears Could Target Dillon Thieneman in 2026 NFL Draft — But What If They Don’t?
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was a standout performer at the NFL Scouting Combine. But is he a fit for the Bears’ defense? On the surface, yes. Because even after signing Coby Bryant to a multi-year deal early in free agency, Chicago’s football team still needs to find a starting safety to pair with their newcomer. What better way to balance the books than by teaming a high-priced free-agent addition with a draft pick on a rookie-scale contract? That just makes sense.
However, safety is not the only need the Bears need to fill on their roster. With that being said, Brad Biggs seems confident that Chicago will focus its energy on defense in the upcoming draft. He said as much in a recent radio hit on 104.3 The Score:
.@BradBiggs is "pretty confident" the Bears will use their 1st-round pick on a defensive player.And he shares the fact that the Bears haven't used a 1st-round pick on the defensive side of the ball since taking Roquan Smith at No. 8 overall in 2018. pic.twitter.com/uG3xpzaCWO
— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) March 18, 2026More from Biggs:
“I feel pretty confident that’s gonna be a pick that is made on the defensive side of the ball. Some people wondered about left tackle. I don’t think that’s going to happen. The Bears haven’t used a first-round draft pick on a defensive player since Roquan Smith was taken at No. 8 in 2018. And in the last two drafts, the top three picks were offensive players.”
That is an astute observation by Biggs to point out that Roquan was the last defensive player the Bears drafted in Round 1. And that pick was made by a different general manager (Ryan Pace) and was a top-10 selection. To go deeper into Bears draft lore, the team hasn’t used a first-round pick on a defensive back since 1996, when it used the 13th overall selection on Mississippi State cornerback Walt Harris. And because you are probably curious, Chicago hasn’t used a first-round pick on a safety since taking USC’s Mark Carrier sixth overall in 1990. It should go without saying, but the NFL has evolved a ton since those picks were made in the 90s.
All things considered, taking Dillon Thieneman would be OK with me. It would not register as my favorite pick, but it is one that would make sense. A first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten performer in 2025, Thieneman was also the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year, a second-team All-Big Ten player, and a third-team All-American in 2023. That is quite the résumé for a defensive back whose career started at Purdue in 2023.
I will continue monitoring Dillon Thieneman (and other potential Bears draft targets) as the spring rolls along.
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn ImagesTHE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
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