Will Dillon Thieneman outperform his draft status?

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman (R) of Oregon poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) after being selected twenty-fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Besides the Windy City Gridiron version ofthe SB Nation Reacts polls we publish here, they also have weekly emailed surveys covering the entire National Football League. You cansign up hereto participate in those. This week's version featured a couple of questions about the offseason, and another asking: Which first-round draft pick will outperform his draft status?

The first six rounders in the graphic below were the options, and I always find it interesting when the Chicago Bears are featured in these national surveys. As fans, we can be a bit biased about our guys, so that national perspective hits differently.

It was a relatively close result, with Bears' rookie safety Dillon Thieneman getting 12%. He was the 25th overall selection, and most pundits had him going much sooner.

Our partners atFanDuel Sportsbookhave Thieneman at +2700 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, and considering he's a likely day one starter with the versatility to be used in a variety of ways, he may fill the stat sheet. If he can pick up the takeaway slack for the Bears after losing several defensive players to free agency, his odds could drop.

Of the defenders in the graphic, Washington linebacker Sonny Styles (7th overall draft pick) is tied with Dallas safety Caleb Downs (11th pick) with the third-best odds at +850.

Tampa Bay EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (15th pick) is second-best to win Defensive Rookie of the Year at +550, with Minnesota defensive tackle Caleb Banks (19th) at +7500

In case you were wondering, Jets EDGE David Bailey (2nd overall selection) is the favorite at +500.

Do you think Thieneman outperforms his draft status?

Who do you like to win Defensive Rookie of the Year?

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