Jeff Schwartz

Not because Thienemann isn't an exceptional prospect, but just, frankly, because of the safety position.

Kind of like the running back position where it does tend to get pushed down the board a little bit.

Do you feel like this is the first of several defensive players that we'll see between tonight and tomorrow for the Bears, Herb?

Yeah, I mean, he was available to the Bears.

I certainly wouldn't paint it as Dylan Thienemann went later in the draft than he should have or anything.

There was some talk that began about him being such a well-regarded player that maybe he'd go even higher than I think most of us thought was a reasonable range for Thienemann because it was kind of like a lot of folks came maybe a little bit later to the party

Once those combine numbers were there, then there was some anticipation and excitement for a player whose film was of that caliber to go and run a 4-3 and jump 40 inches and do the things he did on the hoof.

Then for many of us, it was just confirmation of many of us who knew that's a really good athlete who plays at a high level and the athleticism shows up on tape.

But he is still a safety.

And it's not like he averaged eight interceptions every year.

He wasn't a guy who was like taking your head off every time.

But he's just really good at a lot of stuff.

And he is exceptionally smart and instinctive as a safety.

But coming off the board at 25, a first-round pick at a safety, that's not a position where you see –

three different, four different safeties being drafted on an annual basis in the NFL draft.

And I don't necessarily see Dylan Thienemann as a guy.

I think he can play some nickel.

But the good thing is the Bears won't need him to play nickel.

He will be able to play either strong or free safety.

He can in certain sets if Kyler Gordon has to get moved around a little bit.