Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith will go down as one of the best defensive players in franchise history, but with retirement right around the corner, the team must find another option for the future.
Many mock drafts have the Vikings looking at a secondary player in the first round. One of those popular predictions appears to be now almost a reality for the Vikings' selection.
While at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman confirmed with reporters on Thursday that he met with the Vikings. No details were shared on how the meeting went, but it does give confirmation that Minnesota is targeting safeties in the NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings met with Dillon Thieneman at 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Thieneman is one of the top safeties coming into the NFL Draft and is expected to be a lock as a first-round pick. Most mock drafts have Thieneman falling in the mid to late first-round section of the draft, with the Vikings being a common landing spot for him.
Last year at Oregon, Thieneman racked up 92 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack. He was selected as a first-team Big Ten and All-American selection for his play.
One thing Thieneman discussed with reporters at the Combine was his ability to line up in the box and play linebacker if needed. That would be a key piece of information the Vikings would love to have in their defense, with defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
This defense was stout in most aspects, but was 21st against the run, allowing 124.1 yards per game on the ground last season. Thieneman would be able to help with that by playing in the box more often and coming off the edges to get to the running back.
Of course, he is also stellar in coverage, and Thieneman can help the safety position get more consistent with defending the pass. He can line up with Josh Metellus back there and give them a youthful boost in how they cover tight ends or support against wide receivers.
Flores would love to have a guy like Thieneman in his secondary, as he can be a Swiss army knife that would elevate the defense to higher levels than it is already at.
Watch for the Vikings to stay in the conversation for Thieneman and potentially get aggressive in moving up in the draft to ensure they get their next great safety back there.