Final ESPN Mock Drafts Say the Same Thing for Vikings
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman fired up a fantabulous NFL Combine in February, and from that moment on, the NFL world decided he needed to be a Minnesota Viking. Fast forward to the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the steam from ESPN has not slowed down.
The connection keeps showing up. For good reason.
Thieneman’s not a lock to join the Vikings, but the supporters of the relationship are more than plentiful.
Safety Succession Remains a Real Draft Priority for Minnesota
Ready for a Duck in the secondary?
Matt Miller Mock Draft: Thieneman to MIN
Miller certainly wasn’t bashful about revealing his Vikings selection. He wrote, “The most widely predicted pick in Round 1 mock drafts after pick No. 1, Thieneman is seen as an ideal fit for the Vikings based on his versatile play and the age of star safety Harrison Smith.”
“The concern in Minnesota, I’m told, is whether Thieneman will make it to this point. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) would be the fallback plan if he doesn’t. One name mentioned by a Vikings source if the safeties are gone was cornerback Chris Johnson (San Diego State).”
Jeremy Fowler from the same network added, “I’m told that Thieneman is confident he goes in the top 20. So, consider Dallas (sitting at 12 and 20) as his ceiling and floor, barring a surprise slide.”
Johnson, the alleged fallback plan, went to the same college as Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell — San Diego State.
Peter Schrager Mock Draft: Thieneman to MIN + Field Yates
How about Schrager, who now works for ESPN? He rolled with Thieneman to Minnesota, too, explaining, “The whole industry has been putting Thieneman with Minnesota at No. 18 for weeks. It makes sense. The Vikings need an impact safety, and Thieneman has the speed and instincts to thrive in coordinator Brian Flores’ defense.
“But … I also think Minnesota could consider Sadiq here if he’s still available. T.J. Hockenson is entering a contract year.”
Field Yates at ESPN? He says — you guessed it — Thieneman: “This is the most common pairing in 2026 mock drafts outside the first handful of picks. The Vikings need to fill some gaps in the safety room and Thieneman is the best ball hawk in the class.”
“He can quickly augment Brian Flores’ defense and showed improvement as a tackler in 2025, finishing with eight missed tackles compared to 22 in 2024.”
In many ways, the Vikings’ mock-draft process since the start of March has been anticlimactic. It’s just Thieneman all over the place.
The Tip of the Iceberg
Meanwhile, the Thieneman love affair between the mock-draft community and the Vikings isn’t just an ESPN thing. It’s all over the place.
Google “NFL Mock Draft,” and explore about six of the non-ESPN publications. You’ll find at least four connecting the safety to O’Connell’s team. That’s actually a reduction compared to a month ago, when every single mock said the same thing: Thieneman to the Vikings.
In 2024, many mock-drafters featured J.J. McCarthy to Minnesota, but even that theory paled in comparison to Thieneman as of late. Folks just love the idea of the Duck in purple.
What the Vikings Would Get in Thieneman
Standing at 6’0″ and 200 pounds, Thieneman drastically altered his draft stock when he uncorked a 4.35-second forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Before this performance, he was generally projected near the top of Round 2; now, he’s firmly entrenched in Round 1 territory and considered a definite pick on Thursday night.
His pass coverage immediately stands out, thanks to his smooth movement and impressive speed. However, his change-of-direction awareness needs refinement, and his processing speed is expected to improve with additional live reps.
Four years ago, the Vikings began preparing for life without the aforementioned Smith. Ex-Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah selected Georgia safety Lewis Cine with a late 1st-Round pick, hoping he would soon take over the starting role.
That plan quickly unraveled. Smith maintained his high level of play, retaining his starting position, while Cine, whose development was complicated by an early leg fracture, ultimately proved to be a bust.
Now, the team faces the same crossroads ahead of the 2026 season, but with a heightened sense of urgency and minimal margin for error. Smith’s tenure is finally nearing its end, necessitating a seamless transition on the roster. In fact, Smith may already be retired.
Thieneman would immediately assume a starting role. Should Smith return, a part-time role alongside the rookie could be a sensible arrangement. Minnesota has reached a critical juncture; planning for life after Smith can no longer be deferred. Thieneman is a pretty damn safe play to avoid a Cine redo.
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