The Bears entered the NFL Draft on Thursday looking for an edge rusher — and didn’t use their first pick on one.
Rather than take a pass rusher in a draft highlighted by its depth at the spot, the Bears turned to the second safety in the draft class with the No. 25 overall pick. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman will pair with Coby Bryant, the Bears’ biggest free-agent addition this offseason, in a remarkable outlay of money and draft status for the two safety spots.
Born in the Indianapolis area, Thieneman played two seasons at Purdue, where he was named a freshman All-American in 2023 and led the Boilermakers in tackles in 2024. He started all 15 games in his lone year playing at Oregon, where he was named first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-America.
His four-year rookie contract will pay $19.5 million.
Thieneman, who turns 22 in August, attended the draft in Pittsburgh. A fan handed him a chain with a Bears logo on it. He put it on and posed for photos.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” he said later. “So I’m very glad that I came here and got to experience that with the family and other people that helped me get to this point.”
Thieneman’s speed — he ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash — and versatility will fit defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s preference for defensive backs who can cover all over the field and be physical against the run. Bryant and cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon already fit that bill. -Allen planned to cross-train Gordon, a slot corner, at safety last year before he was injured.
At Purdue, Thieneman played mostly free safety. He moved around at Oregon, playing both the field and boundary positions. During the offseason, he studied nickel cornerback.
“Making the leap to Oregon was kind of preparing me for the next level already,” Thieneman said. “Going to a new place, new coaches, new scheme, new environment. So I’m kind of used to that change and how to make it and what works for me and what doesn’t. I’m able to grow from that last experience and hit the ground running.”
General manager Ryan Poles said Thieneman’s versatility made him worth a first-round pick. Teams usually have been able to find traditional box safeties in the later rounds. Bears college scouting director Breck Ackley said the versatility of Thieneman and Bryant will encourage Allen to be more creative.
“It allows us to put multiple players in the best position because of what those guys can both do,” he said.
But the fact Thieneman doesn’t rush the passer means the Bears are still on the hunt for one of the most important positions in the game. The team knew it needed to improve its pass rush after finishing second-to-last in pass-rush win rate last season — then failed to add anyone significant in free agency. -Defensive end Montez Sweat finished with 10 sacks last season, while Austin Booker had 4½ sacks in 10 regular-season games.
Before the draft, the Bears added $10.4 million in salary-cap space by restructuring the contracts of guard Jonah Jackson and tight end Cole Kmet. By converting their salary into bonuses, the Bears brought their cap number down this year but raised it in 2027.
The draft started with the Raiders taking Fernando Mendoza, adding yet another quarterback to whom the Bears’ Caleb Williams will be compared — both this season and into the future.
Two years after the Bears picked the USC star first overall, the Raiders made Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winner their latest hope to turn around a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2002. The Bears asked Williams to do something similar and watched in Year 2 as he, with the help of new coach Ben Johnson, led the team to its first postseason victory in 15 years.
While a shoo-in to be the No. 1 pick, Mendoza isn’t as lauded as Williams was when he entered the 2024 draft. Many thought Mendoza would be the only quarterback taken in the first round, but the Rams surprised by drafting Alabama’s Ty Simpson at No. 13.
Mendoza, who won the national championship with the Hoosiers this year, watched the draft from Coral Gables, Florida. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the selection from a stage outside the Steelers’ stadium.
Chicago-born Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate was a surprise choice of the Titans at No. 4. Tate attended Marist before spending the last two years of his high school career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He had 1,872 receiving yards in three seasons in Ohio State.
The Cowboys moved up from No. 12 to 11 to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The Dolphins, who picked next, made Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor the third offensive tackle chosen during a four-pick span. The NFC North rival Lions took another, Clemson’s Blake Miller, at No. 17. The run on offensive tackles continued when the Panthers took Georgia’s Monroe Freeling at No. 19 and the Steelers took Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor 20th.
