The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and for the Minnesota Vikings, a name that is mocked to them ad nauseam is Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
Just about every mock draft, from the smallest draft content creators to the faces who rock the TV on ESPN and NFL Network, has Thieneman going to the Vikings, always deeming him a "perfect fit" in Brian Flores's scheme.
Well, in a recent article posted on NFL.com by James Reber, a Next Gen Stats Research Analyst, he also has Theineman linked to the Vikings, showing that even analytics point to this being a match made in heaven.
Oregon DB Dillon Thieneman continues to get mocked to the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 NFL Draft
Reber's article is about 20 ideal team-prospect fits that could happen in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. He has 10 for offense and 10 for defense, and of course, on the defensive side, is the Thieneman/Vikings connection.
Reber goes on to state that "Thieneman offers blinding speed, quick-twitch agility and the position versatility that Brian Flores covets." He later adds that Thieneman would "fit exceptionally well into Flores' disguised-coverage looks."
He gushes how "Thineman uses his athleticism to get involved in the play when he aligns deep before the snap, and he locked down his zone assignment no matter where he lined up."
It's hard to argue with anything Reber says in those statements.
Thieneman blew up at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, showcasing his elite athletic ability, and was used in all kinds of different looks, both at Purdue and at Oregon.
He is an athletic freak who offers positional flexibility; he's a big hitter who enforces at the line of scrimmage; he has elite ball skills; and clearly, that isn't lost on an analytics guy like Reber.
Reber also points to the fact that Theo Jackson was inconsistent in his first year as a starter and how Josh Metellus is better playing near the line of scrimmage.
It was also interesting that Reber stated that Harrison Smith was "pondering retirement" rather than assuming he had already made that decision, but either way, the end is near for the Hitman.
Reber lays out his case very well. There's a need at the position, there's a guy who analytically checks every single box that Brian Flores wants in a safety, and he could be on the board when the Vikings pick.
Vikings fans may be sick of hearing or seeing Thieneman mocked to the Vikings.
There does get to be a point in the draft season where prospect burnout sets in, and fans and the media get sick of talking about the same prospect over and over again. This can lead to some false narratives being thrown out there to maybe create buzz about a shiny new option to discuss.
In the case of Thieneman, the burnout needs to be ignored.
Almost all of the top draft gurus have pointed to the fact that Thieneman is an ideal fit for the Purple, and now even analytics point to this being the best possible pairing for the Vikings and their use of the 18th overall pick.
All signs lead to this being an ideal coupling, and now it's time to start hoping he's still on the board when the Vikings go on the clock.