​Beyond the Windy City Gridiron version of the SB Nation Reacts polls that we publish here, SB Nation also runs weekly email surveys covering the entire National Football League. You can sign up here to participate in those. This week’s edition included a few offseason-themed questions and another asking: Which first-round draft pick will outperform his draft status? The first six rounders shown in the accompanying graphic were the options, and it’s always interesting to see the Bears represented in these national surveys. As fans, we can be a little biased toward our own players, so the national perspective hits differently.
The results were fairly close. Bears rookie safety Dillon Thieneman drew 12% of the vote. He went 25th overall, a spot many analysts projected him to climb higher, so seeing him in the mix is notable.
Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook currently list Thieneman at +2700 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Given that he’s a likely starter from Day One and can be utilized in multiple roles to rack up tackles and other impacts, he could make a meaningful contribution. If he can help fill the takeaway void for the Bears after several defensive departures in free agency, his odds might improve.
Among the defenders depicted, Washington linebacker Sonny Styles (the 7th overall pick) is tied with Dallas safety Caleb Downs (the 11th pick) for the third-best odds at +850. Tampa Bay EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (the 15th pick) sits behind those two with +550, and Minnesota defensive tackle Caleb Banks (the 19th pick) is listed much farther back at +7500. For reference, Jets EDGE David Bailey, the 2nd overall selection, remains the favorite at +500.
Do you think Thieneman can outperform his draft status? Who do you like to win Defensive Rookie of the Year? Share your thoughts in the comment section. Sign up for a user account to enjoy fewer ads, create community posts, comment on articles and community posts, and benefit from an improved notifications system. This is also a great way to bolster your SEO presence by engaging with the content.