If you’re a Minnesota Vikings mock draft savant — you probably are if you’re reading stuff from this website — you probably know the name Dillon Thieneman by now, a safety from the University of Oregon. He’s popping up all over the place for the Vikings in mock drafts, even drawing ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s attention this week.

Minnesota’s safety need keeps pointing back to Thieneman.

While the team has a large draft mystery this time around, mainly because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired at the end of January, Thieneman is rapidly becoming Minnesota’s draft favorite, at least according to pundits and fans.

Thieneman Feels Like a Natural Match for Brian Flores

The Oregon Duck as Harrison Smith’s replacement is all the rage.

Kiper: Thieneman to MIN at No. 18

The Vikings have a need at safety, especially if Smith retires, and Thieneman would emphatically fill that with his rookie profile.

That’s why Kiper mock-drafted him to Minnesota on Tuesday and wrote, “We still don’t know whether 37-year-old Harrison Smith will keep playing (and if so, whether he’ll return to Minnesota as a free agent). Joshua Metellus, Jay Ward and Theo Jackson are the top safeties on the Vikings’ depth chart. In a division with Caleb Williams, Jordan Love and Jared Goff, this has to be a priority at the draft regardless of whether Smith is back for Year 15.”

“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.”

Since the NFL Combine three weeks ago, Thieneman to the Vikings has taken on a life of its own.

The Combine Breakout

In Indianapolis, Thieneman took the Combine by storm, banking 4.35 forty and jumping a 41-inch vertical. He also showed incredible — somewhat unexpected? — backpedal motion and fluidity. The event alone shoved him into Round 1 of mock drafts after previously living near the top-middle of Round 2.

Thieneman also has the size at 6’0″ and 200 pounds. His versatility is noteworthy, as he can play single-high coverage and play at the line of scrimmage when needed.

If Thieneman flies off the board in Round 1 to the Vikings or another team, he can thank his Combine showing.

Thieneman’s Scouting Report

Thieneman played two seasons at Purdue — Minnesotans know him because of the Big Ten connection — before transferring to Oregon in 2025. He’s played 39 games collegiately and banked 306 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 10 tackles for loss. His coverage skills are phenomenal for a rookie safety, and the elite speed will make defensive coordinators salivate. Thieneman shows hesitation at times, but that’s not unusual for a rookie defender.

The Draft Buzz on Thieneman: “Thieneman is the kind of safety who walks into a defensive meeting room on Day One and immediately earns his keep. The coverage grades speak loudly, but what separates him is the totality of the package.”

“This is a player who can align in a two-high shell pre-snap, rotate down to a robber look post-snap, and then fill an alley against the run with real physicality, all within the same drive. The modern NFL is demanding exactly this type of defensive back, and Thieneman’s college production in multiple schemes and alignments suggests his transition should be smoother than most.”

If Minnesota brings Kiper’s mock to life, Thieneman would almost certainly grab Theo Jackson or Jay Ward’s job immediately, assuming Smith returns for one more year.

TBD added, “His best fit is in a defense that values pre-snap disguise and post-snap versatility in the secondary. Defensive coordinators who run multiple coverage structures and ask their safeties to communicate and adjust on the fly will love what Thieneman brings to the table.”

“His coverage instincts and diagnostic ability make him a natural fit in split-safety looks, but his tackling and run support are good enough that he won’t be a liability when asked to come down into the box.”

The Other Round 1 Draft Possibilities

Of course, the Vikings aren’t guaranteed to pick Thieneman if he’s there at No. 18. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski and Minnesota’s coaching staff may have a different take early in the draft. In all likelihood, if Minnesota does not trade down, the Vikings’ pick in Round 1 will be one of these men:

• C.J. Allen (LB) — Georgia
• Caleb Banks (DT) — Florida
• Mansoor Delane (CB) — LSU
• Keldric Faulk (EDGE) — Auburn
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — Toledo
• Makai Lemon (WR) — USC
• Akheem Mesidor (EDGE) — Miami (FL)
• Jermod McCoy (CB) — Tennessee
• Kayden McDonald (DT) — Ohio State
• Kenyon Sadiq (TE) — Oregon
• Dillon Thieneman (S) — Oregon
• Avieon Terrell (CB) — Clemson
• Jordyn Tyson (WR) — Arizona State
• Peter Woods (DT) — Clemson

Outside linebacker isn’t a pressing roster need, but it could move up the list if Minnesota trades Jonathan Greenard, who lives hot and heavy in the rumor mill.

On Thieneman, the best stylistic comparison currently in the pros may be Atlanta Falcons safety Jesse Bates III, a three-time All-Pro.

Thieneman will turn 22 in August.

The UEFA Champions League round of 16 concluded this Wednesday (March 18), with a whopping 68 goals across 16 matches. The last-16 stage of the tournament saw a number of high-profile stars impressing in the final third, helping their teams reach the quarter-finals.

So, who were the best 5 performers from the recently concluded UEFA Champions League round of 16?

UEFA Champions League R16: 5 best players

#5 Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)

Colombia winger Luis Diaz started both of Bayern Munich’s last-16 games against Atalanta, playing a vital role in the Bavarians’ 10-2 win on aggregate. The 29-year-old provided an assist in the 6-1 win at Atalanta before registering one goal and an assist in the 4-1 victory at Allianz Arena. He completed an impressive nine dribbles and also created five chances across two legs.

#4 Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)

Argentina striker Julian Alvarez led from the front for Atletico Madrid in his side’s 7-5 aggregate win against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16. He scored twice on either side of the break and laid out an assist in the 5-2 first leg win, while he contributed a goal and an assist in the 3-2 second leg loss to help his club seal a quarter-final tie against Barcelona.

#3 Raphinha (Barcelona)

Brazil forward Raphinha shouldered most of the responsibility of guiding Barcelona to the quarter-finals after his club were held to a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United. He failed to register a goal involvement in the first leg, but recorded two goals and two assists in the 7-2 second leg triumph at Camp Nou. He also created nine chances, including four big chances, in two last-16 games.

#2 Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)

Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde produced a captain’s display in his side’s 3-0 Champions League round of 16 first leg win against Manchester City. He scored three goals in the first half at Estadio Bernabeu before his tireless performance in the 2-1 second leg triumph at Etihad Stadium. He created three chances and won 15 of his 28 overall duels across two contests.

#1 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)

Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia turned heads with his excellent goalscoring performances in Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) 8-2 aggregate win over Chelsea. He scored a brace and provided an assist in his second half cameo in the 5-2 first leg. He then netted the opener in PSG’s 3-0 second leg victory at Stamford Bridge after starting the match on the left-side of the pitch.