Dillon Thieneman — Safety Oregon 6’0”, 207 lbs
Dillon Thieneman — Safety
Oregon | 6’0”, 207 lbs
Draft Projection: Late 1st / Early 2nd pick 25-35
Role: Free Safety / Cover 1 Center Fielder
Class: True Junior
Overview:
Dillon Thieneman is one of the smartest and most instinctive defensive backs in the draft. A high-IQ safety with extensive starting experience, Thieneman plays fast because he processes fast. He brings legitimate range, strong ball production, and the confidence to trigger downhill in the run game. While he isn’t the biggest safety and still has some technical clean-up to do, his floor as a long-term starter is extremely high, and his best tape suggests Pro Bowl-caliber coverage ability.
Strengths:
Thieneman’s calling card is his mental processing. He reads route concepts quickly, anticipates throws, and consistently arrives at the catch point on time. His 91.1 coverage grade in 2025 reflects his comfort playing both zone and man, particularly as a single-high defender. He shows excellent range from the middle of the field and closes ground quickly with strong straight-line speed.
He’s a film junkie who plays with confidence and decisiveness. Against the run, Thieneman triggers downhill without hesitation and finishes violently when he squares up. His missed tackle rate (8.3%) is solid given his volume of snaps (2,400+), and his pursuit effort consistently shows up on tape. He’s active in passing lanes, tracks the ball well in the air, and has proven ball production dating back to his freshman season.
Versatility is another plus — Thieneman can align as a deep middle safety, split-field defender, or rotate down pre-snap without looking lost.
Weaknesses:
Thieneman is not a physically dominant safety and can struggle when asked to take on blocks consistently. He doesn’t always disengage cleanly and can resort to ankle-biting in space. His pursuit angles can be inconsistent, particularly when reacting to misdirection or heavy play-action concepts.
He can also be susceptible to eye discipline lapses, especially against offenses that layer routes or manipulate him with motion. While his speed is good, the Combine will be important in determining just how much range he has at the next level and whether he can consistently erase vertical threats from the deep middle.
Athletic Profile & Production:
Thieneman combines experience and youth in a rare way. With 38 career starts and elite production metrics, he still has room to grow physically and technically. He’s one of the few FBS safeties since 2015 to post:
A coverage grade above 88.0
A run defense grade above 90.0 (in at least one season)
A career pressure rate above 1/3
That group includes names like Derwin James, underscoring the rarity of his impact profile.
🐻 Scheme Fit Bears & NFL Projection:
Thieneman is best utilized as a Cover 1 or Cover 3 free safety, where his instincts, range, and ball skills can shine. He can start early in his career and should immediately improve communication and reliability on the back end. Teams that value discipline, pattern recognition, and post safety play will view him as plug-and-play.
Role in the Bears’ Defense
Thieneman fits cleanly as a starting free safety in the Bears’ base and sub-packages:
Primary single-high (Cover 1 / Cover 3) safety
Quarterback of the secondary pre-snap
His instincts and communication skills would immediately improve Chicago’s coverage reliability, especially on third down. He’s at his best patrolling the deep middle, reading QBs, and closing throwing windows — something the Bears have lacked consistency with.
This isn’t a redshirt pick. Thieneman would walk into camp with a legitimate shot to start Week 1 because:
He processes faster than most young safeties
He rarely busts coverages
He’s already played 2,400+ snaps against high-level competition
The Bears need defensive players they can trust early, and Thieneman’s mental game gives him a shorter learning curve than most Round 2 DBs.
Floor, Ceiling, and Risk
Floor: Reliable multi-year starter with strong coverage value
Ceiling: High-end free safety who quarterbacks the secondary
Risk: Average size and inconsistent physicality vs. blocks limit upside in box-heavy roles
🧸Final Bears Take
Thieneman is one of the safest defensive backs in the class. Even if he never becomes an elite physical presence, his intelligence, instincts, and coverage ability should keep him on the field for a long time.
If the Bears snag him at 25 or walk out of Round 2 with Dillon Thieneman, they’ve solved a major secondary question with a player who: Starts immediately and elevates everyone around him. In a draft where defensive starters will be pushed up the board, he’s exactly the type of Day 2 player who could come off earlier than expected. Chicago needs multiple defensive contributors, Thieneman is exactly the kind of selection that fills an immediate need from Day 1.
