Main Draft Target for Vikings Could Go to Cowboys
From January to late April, it’s safe to say that Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman has turned into the Minnesota Vikings’ mock-draft frontrunner, especially in the last seven weeks. That’s all fine and dandy, but there’s a decent chance that he’s snatched off the board by the Dallas Cowboys before Minnesota gets a chance to pick him.
Minnesota may need a backup plan fast.
That’s some of the latest intel with the NFL draft about 24 hours away.
Dallas Has Entered the Picture for a Top Minnesota Draft Candidate
Not so fast on those automatic Thieneman-to-Vikings takes.
Don’t Be Surprised by Thieneman to DAL
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who is respected around the sport and not just a talking head, advanced the Thieneman-DAL theory this week.
He said on The Joe Klatt Show, “The Cowboys have a glaring need in the secondary and its safety position. I think Thieneman could be the 12th pick in the draft. Tosh Lupoi loves Thieneman, along his journey, he was at Alabama, he was there from 2014 all the way to 2018, he was the co-DC in 2017.”
“You know who was coaching in that secondary? It was Derrick Ansley. You know who coaches DBs for the Dallas Cowboys right now? Derrick Ansley. That’s why I’ve been saying Thieneman could be the 12th pick in the draft.”
Thieneman has been mock-drafted here and there to Dallas, but Jeremiah’s comments up the ante.
The Cowboys’ Safeties
Does Dallas need a safety? Sort of. The club can get by just fine with this group in 2026:
- Jalen Thompson: 68.7 (2025 PFF)
- Malik Hooker: 60.8 (2025 PFF)
- Markquese Bell: 46.8 (2025 PFF)
- P.J. Locke: 50.9 (2025 PFF)
- Julius Wood: n/a
- Alijah Clark: n/a
It should be noted that the Cowboys acquired Thompson last month, a veteran from the Arizona Cardinals. Had they not pulled that maneuver off, Thieneman would be linked to the Cowboys all over the place.
Still, the safety group is not among the NFL’s elite, so drafting Thieneman would actually make sense. That — and the Ansley connection, mentioned by Jeremiah.
Inside the Star‘s Shane Taylor on Thieneman to Dallas: “If the Dallas Cowboys don’t trade up, I am actually just fine with them making this pick if the top corner in the draft is gone. Thieneman is ranked as the No. 17 player in the draft class, and the second-best safety in the draft behind Caleb Downs from Ohio State, who some think will actually fall all the way to pick 12, but you can read all the mock drafts you want.”
“I just do not see that actually happening. I hope it does, but I am trying to be realistic here. When you think about this, the window for Dallas is probably another two years, MAYBE three if they are lucky, but they do not have time to draft a guy that is not ready to start day one and be an impact player.”
Thieneman is a young prospect, too, at 21.
Taylor added, “Thieneman is someone who can step in right away and do what he needs to do and do it at a high level. The Cowboys struggled defensively in 2025, allowing 265.94 passing yards per game. If they do keep their two picks, and they can land Thieneman at 12 and then another day-one starter at pick 20 I would be happy.”
“I also wouldn’t mind a trade up into the top 10, or trading the 20th overall pick and getting a few second round and third round picks as they only have one currently from the trade with the 49ers about a month ago.”
Desperate Need for Defensive Improvement
No matter what, the Cowboys must leave this weekend’s draft with a bevy of promising defensive players. They’ll probably do precisely that, meaning the outcome isn’t that mysterious. Last summer, Jerry Jones opted not to pay otherworldly outside linebacker Micah Parsons, trading him to the Green Bay Packers — of all places — for draft picks and DT Kenny Clark. Now, Jones gets to spend that capital.
He must improve a defense that ranked as follows in 2025:
- Yards Allowed: 30th
- EPA/Play: 32nd
- DVOA: 32nd
- Points Allowed: 32nd
- DEF 3rd Down Conv %: 32nd
These rankings are utterly horrendous, and it’s no wonder Dallas was never a serious playoff contender by November. The defense was putrid. Jones needs Thienemans or Caleb Downses or Mansoor Delanes to fix it.
The Vikings’ Pivot
If Jeremiah has it right, and Thieneman gets chosen by the Cowboys or another non-Vikings team, the mock-draft community expects Minnesota to land one of these prospects:
- Keldric Faulk (EDGE, Auburn)
- Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
- Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
- Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
- Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
- Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
- Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
- Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
- Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
In the 48 hours preceding the draft, momentum has spiked for Sadiq of Oregon and Woods from Clemson.
Sportsbooks expect Dallas to draft LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the 12th pick, not Thieneman.
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