TribLive is highlighting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The three-day event is April 23-25.
Dillon Thieneman
Position: Safety
Height/weight: 6 foot/201 pounds
College: Oregon
Thieneman has three years of strong on-field production for scouts to study.
The 21-year-old made more than 300 career tackles as a three-year starter. He also flashed the speed teams are looking for in a first rounder, having run the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 4.35 seconds.
Thieneman played his first two seasons at Purdue before transferring to Oregon. He had 96 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions last season for the Ducks to earn second-team All-American honors.
At Purdue, he made 104 tackles as a sophomore and 106 tackles and six interceptions as a freshman.
Draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Thieneman as an “instinctive, rangy safety” in his NFL.com profile, who has the football IQ to be “an extension of his defensive coordinator.”
Thieneman started 39 career games.
He earned a 91.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus that ranked second nationally among all FBS safeties. His 91.1 coverage grade also ranked second.
Zierlein said Thieneman isn’t a “big thumper” near the line but shows “relentless pursuit” as a tackler.
Key stat
3.95 — GPA earned by Thieneman, an Academic All-American last season. He was one of three likely first-round picks on the first team, joining Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.
Did you know?
Thieneman made the clinching interception in the second overtime when Oregon defeated Penn State, 30-24, in a matchup of top-10 teams last September.
On draft
Here is a look at where the top NFL Draft analysts rank Thieneman among players at his position and prospects overall:
Draft expert — Safety/Overall
Mel Kiper Jr. — second/22nd
Daniel Jeremiah — third/17th
Todd McShay — second/21st
Field Yates — second/19th
Quotable
“He is super, super explosive. … He trusts his eyes, flat-footed reads, great angles, excellent tackler.”
— NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah
