Dillon Thieneman is a safety from Oregon who is ranked No. 58 on my NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Thieneman’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
Dillon Thieneman’s NFL Draft Potential
Dillon Thieneman proved himself a cut above as a true freshman at Purdue in 2023, when he nabbed six interceptions as a rangy single-high safety. Since then, he’s increased his proportion of plays in the box, as well as in two-high and rover looks, fully exhibiting his versatility.
Projecting to the NFL, Thieneman might have as much single-high utility there with his non-elite long speed and fluidity, but at 6’0″ and over 200 pounds, he’s a strongly built split-field safety with good sink, spatial reasoning skills, processing and reaction speed, and playmaking ability at the catch — and he’s a fast-flowing support defender in the box as well. Tacking on his inbuilt single-high utility to the rest of his profile, Thieneman has clear appeal as a safety blanket on the back end.
CFB Week 9 Update
Thieneman was stellar in Week 9, helping to hold a vulnerable Wisconsin offense to just seven points. He made his presence felt in run support with his quick trigger and closing range, but made his biggest impact as a short-zone robber, notching two deflections. Thieneman’s processing ability, combined with his smooth, efficient pedal and transitioning ability, enables him to clamp down quickly on short routes past stems, and his playmaking propensity at the catch point is well-documented at this stage.
CFB Week 10 Update
Oregon was on a bye in Week 10, but the Ducks will return to action in Week 11 against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes’ passing game won’t stress Oregon’s secondary, but the Ducks will be forced to play fast and physical downhill against the run, and they’ll be tested in the trenches on both sides of the ball by Iowa’s tough, well-coached, and NFL talent-laden fronts.
Where Is Thieneman Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Thieneman currently holds the No. 38 overall rank among prospects, positioning him as a Day 2 prospect. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 41.6 as of October 27 reflects that he is typically being selected in the second or third round.
This small gap between rank and ADP suggests he’s consistently valued among evaluators, even amid fluctuations in player evaluations at this stage of the draft cycle.
Users controlling the Minnesota Vikings have been the team that selected Thieneman the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 3.6% of their picks across all seven rounds. Notably, 16.5% of the Minnesota Vikings’ first-round selections over that same period were used on Thieneman, underscoring users’ strong preference for him as a potential immediate-impact safety.
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Where Does Dillon Thieneman Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Thieneman is currently ranked No. 58 overall in my October 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. Among SAF prospects, Thieneman ranks 7th at the position, trailing prospects like Caleb Downs, Kamari Ramsey, AJ Haulcy. With a ranking inside the top 64, Thieneman is positioned as a Day 2 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Want to see how we rank all the draft prospects in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Check out our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings page, which includes more than 750 prospects.
