Harrison Smith Replacement Is Latest Vikings Theory in NFL.com Mock Draft
The NFL is inching toward the 2026 NFL Combine, so you better believe mock drafts are flying all over the place. And with the Minnesota Vikings holding the 18th overall pick, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah believes Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores will scoop a Harrison Smith replacement: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
NFL.com ties Minnesota to Thieneman as the Smith succession plan, signaling a 2026 secondary transition.
It’s not yet clear whether Smith will retire, but if so, Thieneman might have the juice to fill his shoes.
Dillon Thieneman Emerges as Possible Harrison Smith Successor
Another mock draft for the Vikings — more defense.
Jeremiah: Thieneman to Vikings at No. 18
Because Lewis Cine didn’t pan out and the fact that Smith may indeed retire soon, Minnesota will need a safety for the long haul. Jeremiah thinks Thieneman is the right guy.
He wrote Tuesday, “After studying Thieneman’s impressive 2025 tape at Oregon, I went back and watched the film from his career at Purdue, where he played in 2023 and ’24. His range and playmaking skills were evident back then, too. He would be an excellent replacement for Harrison Smith.”
Jeremiah continued the defensive trend for the Vikings’ spot in mock drafts. Most editions have the club selecting a defensive back or defensive lineman.
Thieneman’s Scouting Report
Thieneman is 6’0 and 200 pounds and will turn 22 in August. He’s known for his versatility at safety, which sounds like a page from the Smith playbook. His ball-tracking is elite for a rookie prospect, and he is known for high football IQ. NFL.com recently compared him to Jevon Holland, a safety for the New York Giants.
A to Z Sports‘ Rob Gregson on Thieneman: “You turn on three years’ worth of tape from Thieneman, and it just gets better and better. After bursting on to the scene as a true freshman in 2023, where he recorded six interceptions, Thieneman then led the Big-10 in tackles in 2024, before doing a little bit of everything for the Ducks in 2025.”
“You’re betting on instincts and explosion with Thieneman. He may not be elite laterally and challenged in terms of his man coverage projection, but if you need a player who can play the high post, poach the middle as a robber, and align as a box safety for a plus one help in the run game, Thieneman is your guy.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: “Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts. He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning.”
“He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man. He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary.”
The 2026 Safeties + a Smith Verdict
If one pretends that Smith will indeed retire, Minnesota’s safety group would look like this in 2026 with Thieneman:
- Josh Metellus
- Dillon Thieneman
- Jay Ward
- Theo Jackson
- Kahlef Hailassie
It’s also worth noting that, as of February 18th, there’s been no official retirement announcement from Smith, which is a bit odd. He can still call it quits, but with each day that passes, Smith is more likely to return for Year No. 15, especially with Flores back in the saddle as the defensive coordinator.
Other Round 1 Options
Thieneman ranks No. 37 on the Consensus Big Board at the time of this article’s publication. He might be a 2nd-Round commodity. If the Vikings don’t reach and pick him at No. 18, the team’s draftboard might resemble this, based on the best player available and long-term roster need:
- CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)
- Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
- KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
- Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
- Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
- Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
- Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
- Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
- Aveion Terrell (CB, Clemson)
- Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
- Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
The NFL draft is about nine weeks away. Minnesota has at least nine picks line up this cycle — four more than last year, when the club had a skimpy cupboard due to the expensive Dallas Turner trade in 2024.
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