2026 Chicago Bears Draft Picks: What Does the Future Look Like For the Rookies?

Dillon Thieneman is projected as a notable Bears rookie in 2026. His forecast includes 82 tackles, which would tie for fourth among NFL rookies, behind Sonny Styles with 123, Arvell Reese with 116, and CJ Allen with 94. The projections also list Thieneman with 1.8 interceptions, placing him in the top five among rookies alongside Treydan Stukes, Mansoor Delane, Caleb Downs, and Christ Johnson. The tackle context notes that safeties have produced high tackle totals for the Bears, with Tremaine Edmunds leading last year at 112 and safeties Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker each at 93. Interception totals for rookies are described as relatively low, with combined rookie interception averages under 40 in most recent seasons.

"For instance, Thieneman's projected 82 tackles would be tied for the fourth-most among NFL rookies this season with fellow first-round safety Caleb Downs. Washington Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles (123 tackles) tops the list and is followed by New York Giants defender Arvell Reese (116) and Indianapolis Colts linebacker CJ Allen (94). Three rookies hit the 100-tackle milestone in 2025, but none reached it in 2023 or 2024."

"Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds led the Bears in tackles with 112 last year, with safeties Kevin Byard III (93) and Jaquan Brisker (93) rounding out the top three. Byard led the team in tackles in 2024. Seeing a safety rack up so many tackles is alarming, to be sure. But it is also telling because it says a lot about the perceived holes in the front seven."

"Clay's projections also have Thieneman down for 1.8 interceptions. That forecast puts him in the top five with Treydan Stukes (Raiders), Mansoor Delane (Chiefs), Caleb Downs (Cowboys), and Christ Johnson (Dolphins). Some fun facts from Clay in this excerpt:"

"These always seem super low, but that's intentional. Rookies have combined to average 41.7 interceptions per season over the past decade, including 37 last season. They have combined for fewer than 40 INTs in five of the past seven seasons, and first-rounders have combined for 13 picks over the past three seasons."

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