The Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills have already completed one significant trade this offseason, and according to a prominent NFL Draft expert, the two franchises may not be done dealing with each other. With the 2026 NFL Draft quickly approaching, speculation is mounting that Chicago and Buffalo could engineer another swap—this time involving a slight move down the draft board that would benefit both sides.
Earlier in the offseason, the Bears sent wide receiver DJ Moore to the Bills in a move that reshaped both receiving corps. Now, Chad Reuter of NFL.com has released his latest mock draft, and in it, he predicts that the two teams will reconnect for a second trade. Under Reuter’s scenario, Chicago would trade back just one spot with Buffalo. That single-position move would allow the Bills to select Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, while the Bears would pivot to address a major defensive need by taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 26th overall pick.
Beyond simply landing their targeted player, the Bears would also recoup the fifth-round selection they originally sent to Buffalo as part of the DJ Moore trade. For a Chicago front office that has been careful to manage its draft capital, getting that pick back while moving down only one spot would be a shrewd piece of business.
Why the Trade Makes Sense for the Bears
From Chicago’s perspective, this proposed trade checks multiple boxes. First, it addresses the team’s limited draft capital on Day 3. Currently, the Bears hold three picks on the final day of the draft, but two of those are in the seventh round. Adding a fifth-rounder would give Chicago a much more balanced selection of mid-to-late round picks, providing general manager Ryan Poles with additional flexibility to add depth or move up for a targeted prospect.
Second, and more importantly, the trade would still allow Chicago to fill a glaring hole in the secondary. Both starting safeties from last season—Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard—departed in free agency. That leaves the Bears with a critical need for a versatile, instinctive, and ready-to-play safety. Dillon Thieneman fits that description perfectly. By moving back only one spot, Chicago ensures it does not miss out on him while still gaining an extra pick.
Reuter summed it up clearly: “General manager Ryan Poles should be happy to regain his fifth-round pick from Buffalo while moving down just one spot. The move ensures he can land the athletic Thieneman, who’ll join Coby Bryant in replacing departed starting safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard.”
A Closer Look at Dillon Thieneman
For fans who may not be familiar with the Oregon product, Dillon Thieneman brings an impressive college résumé and a well-rounded skill set to the table. Over the last three years as a starter—two of which were spent at Purdue before transferring to Oregon—Thieneman posted 306 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, eight interceptions, and 14 passes defensed. Those numbers reflect not only durability and consistency but also a nose for the football.
Physically, Thieneman checks all the boxes teams look for in a modern safety. At 6 feet tall and 201 pounds, he has the size to hold up near the line of scrimmage. Perhaps more impressively, he ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, giving him elite range on the back end. That combination of size and speed allows him to cover ground quickly, close on the football, and recover if he gets caught out of position.
Versatility is another hallmark of his game. Thieneman can play in the box as a traditional strong safety, line up as a free safety in single-high coverages, or slide into the slot to cover tight ends and bigger receivers. That kind of flexibility is increasingly valuable in today’s NFL, where offenses use motion, pre-snap shifts, and multi-receiver sets to create mismatches.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein provided a detailed scouting report on Thieneman, praising his football IQ and leadership. “Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility,” Zierlein wrote. “Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts. He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning. He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man.”
Zierlein also noted that while Thieneman is not a heavy hitter near the line of scrimmage, his relentless pursuit and high motor allow him to pile up tackles. “He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary.”
How Thieneman Would Fit in Chicago
If the Bears do land Thieneman, he would immediately slot in next to Coby Bryant, forming a new-look safety duo. With Brisker and Byard gone, Chicago’s defensive backfield is undergoing a significant transition. Thieneman’s ability to wear multiple hats would be particularly valuable under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who has historically favored safeties who can disguise coverages, rotate late, and handle both zone and man responsibilities.
In Allen’s scheme, Thieneman could be deployed as a deep centerfielder on some snaps and brought down into the box on others. His instincts in zone coverage would allow him to read quarterbacks and break on the ball, while his speed would help him limit explosive plays over the top. Although his change-of-direction ability in man coverage is only average, his football intelligence and pre-snap recognition should help mitigate that weakness.
What This Means for the Bills
On the Buffalo side, moving up one spot to take KC Concepcion would signal a continued commitment to surrounding quarterback Josh Allen with dynamic weapons. After acquiring DJ Moore earlier in the offseason, adding Concepcion would give the Bills one of the more talented and deep wide receiver rooms in the AFC. Concepcion, a standout at Texas A&M, brings a different skill set than Moore—more of a quick, shifty option who can work underneath and after the catch. Pairing the two would create matchup problems for opposing secondaries.
For Buffalo, giving back a fifth-round pick that originally came from Chicago is a small price to pay to ensure they land their targeted receiver. And from a draft capital standpoint, the Bills would still come out ahead overall, having acquired Moore while only sacrificing a modest amount of pick value.
While this proposed trade is still speculative, it fits logically within the broader strategies of both franchises. Chicago needs picks and needs a safety. Buffalo has shown a willingness to be aggressive in adding offensive weapons. A one-spot swap that sends Concepcion to the Bills and Thieneman to the Bears, with a fifth-rounder changing hands, is the kind of sensible, low-risk deal that NFL general managers actually make on draft day.
For Bears fans, the idea of regaining a lost pick while still filling a position of need should be appealing. For Bills fans, moving up for another playmaker would keep the offense among the league’s most dangerous. With the draft now just weeks away, this is a rumor worth watching.
