ESPN Mock Gives Vikings a Double Dose of Defense
Over on ESPN, Field Yates — does good work, as far as I can tell — tosses up a mock draft that covers a pair of rounds.
The Vikings are sitting on No. 18 in the 1st Round and No. 49 in the 2nd Round. Opting for a defender with that coveted top pick isn’t surprising — even if a QB falls — but then the ESPN mock circles back around to defense in the 2nd. Quite possibly, the Yates recommendations will prove prophetic.
An ESPN Mock Goes Vikings Defense X2
Right off the top, there’s the option who is becoming Minnesota’s mock darling: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. As per tradition, the uncertainty surrounding Harrison Smith is a talking point before digging into the Duck.
The explanation: “As Minnesota awaits word on whether safety Harrison Smith will return in 2026, coordinator Brian Flores’ defense is in need of a player who can offer similar ability to limit explosive plays downfield and cover well in the slot. Thieneman had six interceptions as a true freshman at Purdue, displaying exceptional ball skills, range and overall play. He finished up his career with one season at Oregon and had a dominant combine, which included a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.”
No doubt, the secondary would benefit from an infusion of high-end talent, especially if the player is youthful.
Adding Thieneman would be about both competing in 2026 and for several years to come. He doesn’t have the size of Smith but is a more explosive athlete. He would need to slide in behind Josh Metellus, who is the player stepping into the Smith role (versatile, smart, physical, leadership, and so on). Very likely, Jay Ward is going to be given a larger role and Theo Jackson has a job to do, as well.
In other words, it’s a full position, albeit one that commonly needs three or four players on the field within the Coach Flores defense. Opting for Thieneman makes a pile of sense.
Next up is an edge rusher in the ESPN mock.
Yates sends Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton. The rationale: “It’s unclear whether the Vikings will trade away outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, but the team must prepare for that possibility. Dennis-Sutton is the latest in a long line of Penn State pass rushers to graduate to the NFL. He has a strong combination of size (6-foot-6, 256 pounds) and power, posting back-to-back 8.5-sack seasons and 53 pressures in 2025.”
Shoring up the talent at edge rusher is never a bad option. After quarterback, the NFL boasts several super important positions: corner, offensive tackle, receiver, and edge rusher. Which one is the most important is up for debate, but nobody could argue that having a fearsome pass rush isn’t needed in the modern NFL.
An outcome not explored in Yates’ answer is that holding onto Greenard — as I believe the Vikings will do in the end — still involves Minnesota needing young talent at the position.
Greenard, 28, has a pair of seasons left on his deal. Andrew Van Ginkel, 30, is moving into the final year of his deal. Both of these options are coming off a 2025 season where time was missed due to injury. Neither has slowed down as it relates to on-field ability, but this is an area where Minnesota would be wise to take a proactive approach.
Next up would be Dallas Turner, the 23-year-old edge rusher who oozes talent but who is still a far way off from the top pair. Even seeing him explode, as is the hope in the Twin Cities, would involve needing someone to jump into the other edge rusher spot. Otherwise, the team has various depth options such as Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss (all of whom were brought aboard as UDFAs).
Giving the position a young fella to develop makes a ton of sense, especially if that player comes out of the 2nd.
Other roster needs exist, most notably at corner, running back, center, receiver, linebacker, and likely some other spots, as well.
Minnesota currently has nine draft picks.
