LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) – With several key positional needs on defense, the Bears eagerly awaited to see who would be the best player available on their board as their slot drew closer in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday evening.
It ended up being Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, whom the Bears selected at No. 25 overall. He will fill a significant void on the Bears’ defense, which left general manager Ryan Poles happy about how it all played out.
“This was a really cool opportunity where the (positional) need and best player available fell to us,” Poles said.
Thieneman, 21, projects to be an instant starter for the Bears alongside safety Coby Bryant, whom Chicago signed to a three-year, $40-million deal in March. Thieneman logged 306 tackles, eight interceptions and two sacks in 39 career games with Purdue and Oregon at the collegiate level.
The Bears had two other players graded just behind Thieneman who were available at No. 25 overall, Poles said. They looked to “potentially move back a little bit,” Poles said.
“There wasn’t much interest right behind us where we felt comfortable in terms of the numbers,” Poles said. “So we just moved forward. We loved the player. We were excited about it.”
Thieneman was one of 16 prospects on hand in Pittsburgh to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when his name was called.
"It's been incredible,” Thieneman said. “It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment, 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.”
Bears college scouting director Breck Ackley pointed to how Thieneman’s speed flashed on tape. He ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in late February. That often showed up in his on-field performance.
After two years at Purdue, Thieneman transferred to Oregon, where he earned All-American honors last season.
“I mean, really checked every box along the way,” Ackley said. “He goes to the Combine, he blows it up. He matches what he shows on film. You get a chance to meet him, talk to him at the Combine, and he is an all-football guy.
“It was just one of those deals where he checked every single box, and there were really by the end of the process no questions about him. Obviously, it lined up.”
The Bears still have significant needs on their defense, particularly on the defensive line. They’ll have the opportunity to address those needs Friday. Chicago holds a pair of second-round selections (No. 57 overall and No. 60) and a third-round pick (No. 89).
Poles is eager to see how the board aligns for the Bears again.
“We're really selective of who we want,” Poles said. “Now, there's some historical numbers that I have that makes me feel confident that there's going to be guys that we like still available to us. Thankfully, the numbers are high enough where I'll be able to sleep a little bit tonight.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
