{"id":873545,"date":"2026-04-24T13:45:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873545\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:45:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:45:21","slug":"vikings-fans-were-livid-dillon-thieneman-went-to-chicago-youll-love-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873545\/","title":{"rendered":"Vikings Fans Were Livid Dillon Thieneman Went To Chicago \u2014 You’ll Love Why"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears<\/a> had plenty of intriguing options on the board when they went on the clock at 25th overall Thursday night. However, one name stood out above the rest. Many experts believed Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was a top 20 lock. Some even felt he could be the first at his position off the board because of his terrific mix of size and athleticism. However, extended runs at offensive tackle, edge rusher, and wide receiver saw Thieneman fall to the Bears. General manager Ryan Poles knew it was an opportunity he couldn\u2019t afford to pass up.<\/p>\n

Chicago needed safety help after losing Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker to free agency. They\u2019d managed to sign Coby Bryant to fill one of those spots, but the other remains a question mark. Not anymore. Thieneman should be a plug-and-play starter next to him, offering all sorts of versatility.<\/p>\n

Not everybody was happy about the pick, though. Minnesota Vikings fans were almost apoplectic when the news came down that the safety was going to Chicago. Many had projected the NFC North rival would take Thieneman at #18 overall, becoming the heir apparent to aging star Harrison Smith. It didn\u2019t happen, and fans couldn\u2019t handle it.<\/p>\n

Great job on passing Dillon Thieneman now you have to play him twice a year!!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) April 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u2026 and Thieneman goes to Chicago lmfao <\/p>\n

Can\u2019t make this up<\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud835\ude46\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@verysadvikings) April 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Do I think the Vikings are cooked for not drafting Dillon Thieneman? Absolutely not.<\/p>\n

Do I think the Vikings are a little fucked because the Bears picked Dillon Thieneman? Absolutely.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) April 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Passing in Dillon Thieneman is going to haunt the Vikings<\/p>\n

\u2014 Kyler Blackmore (@Kjb_lovinlife) April 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

I really hate this pick by the #Vikings<\/a>. WTF guys, You let Thieneman fall to the bears!!! Kwesi still haunting this fucking draft room. #Skol<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cob (@Clay_M00re) April 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

WTF were you doing, Rob??
NO ONE had Caleb Banks as a 1st rd pick!
& then you gift wrapped Thieneman to our divisional rival??<\/p>\n

OMFG!
The leadership of this team is ridiculously incompetent!<\/p>\n

This is the most disappointing & overdrafted player since Kwesi took Cine Year1<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jackson Kruger (@JacksonRKruger) April 24, 2026<\/a> The Dillon Thieneman pick hits twice as hard for them.<\/p>\n

It starts with the reason stated above. Smith is 37 years old. He is nearing the end of a glittering career in Minnesota. The team has been putting off finding an eventual heir for some time. Thieneman looked like the ideal solution. Some inside the NFL even compared him to Smith with his size, range, and intelligence. It felt like a no-brainer. Instead, the Vikings bowed to their needs at defensive tackle. Remember, they had to cut Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this offseason due to salary cap constraints. That is a big reason why they took Caleb Banks.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd25 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel<\/a> to hear Chicago legends tell stories you\u2019ve never seen in headlines \u2014 real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake. The Florida product is very talented. Many have called him a more athletic Gervon Dexter. He showed flashes of dominance in college. Unfortunately, health issues kept getting in the way. A foot injury ended his 2025 season early. Then another foot injury hit him during the pre-draft process. Two injuries to the same area of his body felt like a major red flag, especially for a player of his sheer size. That was not the sort of gamble Vikings fans wanted to see, especially after years of roster mismanagement by former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s never a bad sign when rival fans hate your pick.<\/p>\n

Some criticized the Bears for taking Dillon Thieneman over a defensive tackle or edge rusher, who were more pressing needs. He can\u2019t rush the passer. The fact is, the board didn\u2019t line up that way for the Bears. Five edge rushers went before the Bears picked at #25. Six offensive tackles went. The defensive tackle class is weak. Chicago had a choice. Reach at one of those positions, hoping they get lucky that other teams made a mistake, or trust the board and take the best talent. They chose the latter.<\/p>\n

Taking a safety in the 1st round isn\u2019t glamorous. Most believe it isn\u2019t a premium position compared to cornerback and edge rusher. However, the reality is that great defenses always have at least one really good safety. The Bears know this. It was Mike Brown in the 2000s, Gary Fencik in the 1980s, and Richie Petitbon in the 1960s. There is no telling how high Thieneman will climb. Yet most agree he has a bright future ahead of him, especially under such an accomplished coaching staff.<\/p>\n