The Vikings’ Mock Draft Darling
Look past the position. If a safety can be a tremendous slot corner, linebacker, and free safety, is he worth a top pick?
The Vikings’ mock drafts are only going to increase. As you read these mocks, watch for Dillon Thieneman. The safety played his college ball at Purdue before journeying to Oregon; recently, he tore up the NFL Combine. Most impressive is his forty time, which came in at an elite 4.35 (he has wheels). Partner that with being someone who can get shuffled around the secondary and it’s not hard to see the appeal.
The Vikings’ Mock Draft Pick: Dillon Thieneman
To begin, the scouting assessment that arrives on the NFL’s website (if the desire is mocks, then scroll down).
Check out what Lance Zierlein has to say: “Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. 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.”
Further: “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.”
Consider, as well, that the player comparable is Jevon Holland. Holland, a very good player, got chosen at No. 36 by the Dolphins when Brian Flores was the head coach. So, worth noting.
Ideally, the Vikings would see Caleb Downs fall. The great issue with that hope is that there’s next to no chance that Downs falls. If the Vikings want a versatile, upside safety, then the pivot could be toward Dillon Thieneman.
Last year, he played for the Ducks. The defender’s fifteen games resulted in 96 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes defended.
While earning a blistering 91.0 grade on PFF, Dillon Thieneman offered his team 434 snaps in the box (think linebacker). Next up is 247 snaps as a deep safety. There’s then 118 snaps in the slot, 7 snaps along the d-line, and 5 as a wide corner.
Admittedly, the Vikings’ needs do hinge on Harrison Smith, at least to a certain extent. Even if Smith returns, the Vikings’ mocks that include Thieneman make sense. Grafting a high-end playmaker into an NFL secondary is never a bad move.
Daniel Jeremiah mocked him to Minnesota in a recent piece, writing, “I wanted to find a different option for the Vikings after slotting Thieneman here in my last mock draft, but every time I do this exercise, the Oregon safety ends up staring me in the face at Pick No. 18. He’s a perfect fit.”
Over on ESPN, Mel Kiper joins the fun: “I had Thieneman to the Vikings in my last mock draft. He reminds me a lot of Smith in the way he reads the QB and reacts in a flash. I could see defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting creative with Thieneman, lining him up all over the formation and letting him use his great ball skills to pile up takeaways.”
As a final example, note the word from CBS: “Dillon Thieneman has the range and coverage versatility to be a weapon in Brian Flores’ defense. He’s been making plays on the ball since recording six interceptions as a true freshman at Purdue.”
To be sure, there are other theories. Sinking the pick into CB Avieon Terrell makes a pile of sense, as the mocks indicate. So, too, could there be any number of moves. Simply note that the Oregon safety has been picking up steam as of late, turning into a trendy option.
At 21, Dillon Thieneman offers the youth that Minnesota often covets 1st-Round selections. He stands at 6’0″ and weighs 205 pounds. Sturdy, but not hulking.
The Vikings own the No. 18 selection.
