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 not 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.
CFB Week 11 Update
Against a run-heavy Iowa offense, Dillon Thieneman saw most of his action coming downhill in support, or running down players in pursuit, in Week 11. Thieneman’s angles were mostly sound, and as he’s displayed previously in his career, he knows how to properly break down and engage to lead with the shoulder and wrap up. With his combined play recognition, angle IQ, and willing physicality, Thieneman stands out as one of the better support safeties in the class.
CFB Week 12 Update
Week 12 presented another solid outing for Thieneman, this time against a Minnesota offense in a constant state of catch-up against the Ducks. Thieneman was fast-flowing and rangy in support, chasing plays to the boundary and sealing off paths upfield. Meanwhile, in coverage, he managed spacing against a variety of route concepts, maintained discipline with his hip alignment, and logged a pass breakup.
If Oregon makes the CFB Playoffs as is expected at this point, Thieneman will have his most consequential games on deck for his 2026 NFL Draft evaluation.
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 49.9 as of November 19 reflects that he is typically being selected in the second or third round.
The gap between his rank and ADP indicates that while he’s highly regarded on our board, draft simulators are seeing him slide slightly, possibly due to team needs or positional value considerations.
Users controlling the Minnesota Vikings have been the team that selected Thieneman the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 2.6% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Dillon Thieneman Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Thieneman is currently ranked No. 58 overall in my November 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.
