Bears rookie from 2026 NFL Draft class who will make biggest Year 1 impact

The Chicago Bears have done quite well for themselves when it comes to adding talent through the draft in recent years. Last year, Colston Loveland and Luther Burden were selected to bolster Chicago’s offense. Before then, the Bears landed their franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams, as well as his top target, Rome Odunze, in the first round. The players all made big impacts right away at premier positions. The Bears weren’t nearly as splashy during the 2026 NFL Draft, as they prioritized adding defensive talent and depth pieces.

Chicago still expects big things right away from this draft class, though. So, which rookie will have the biggest impact in his first season?

Dillon Thieneman will be the most impactful rookie

Unfortunately, it seems less likely than in past years that the Bears’ rookie class will contribute in a big way during their first season. ClutchPoints’ Tim Crean gave the Bears a B+ draft grade for their performance over the weekend because the team did well in plugging holes, but a number of their draftees are likely slated for reserve roles right off the bat.

Drew Dalman’s surprise retirement opened up a long-term opportunity at center, but second-round pick Logan Jones might not take over there. Garrett Bradbury was traded for this offseason to replace Dalman. He only has one year left on his deal, but Chicago will likely go with the veteran center over the rookie.

Sam Roush and Zavion Thomas are expected to be backups to start, too. Chicago expects bigger things from Loveland this year, which means Roush will have to earn reps. And Thomas is, at best, fourth or fifth in line for targets this season, even after the DJ Moore trade.

The Bears’ defensive backs unit was decimated by the free agent market, so the safeties and cornerbacks that the Bears drafted will be the most relied upon to make immediate impacts. Chicago took Malik Muhammad in the fourth round and Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick.

They will replace Kevin Byard, Nahshon Wright, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Jaquan Brisker. Thieneman and Muhammad have big shoes to fill, as the Bears led the league in interceptions last year, and the turnover differential the team amassed was arguably the biggest reason they took a huge step forward.

The defensive passing attack is expectedly going to take a step back this season, unless the young bucks can exceed expectations. As a first-round pick, Thieneman is expected to start from day one. Thieneman will pair deep down the field longside the newly signed Coby Bryant, who is fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Thieneman is a ball hawk, so the hope is that he will prevent major regression in the interception department. The Oregon product is no slouch in the running game, either.

Even when the Bears racked up the interception numbers, the team’s defense still lacked in a number of areas. Despite the surplus of interceptions, the Bears ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed. The run defense was even worse, as they ranked 27th in rushing yards allowed.

Ultimately, the Bears were willing to let so many key defensive backs go because they thought the interception numbers weren’t sustainable, and the defense as a whole needed revamping. Thieneman and Muhammad were a start in building up the defense, but the pressure is on for the two of them because of just how many bodies the secondary lost. Thieneman, in particular, will need to play at an elite level right away to validate his draft status.

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