The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next April, a city that could be where the Vikings select the next star they add to their roster in hopes of righting the proverbial ship. Before April, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle, which has the team focusing on defense once again. He has the Vikings giving them secondary help in the form of Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. He has become a popular player for the Vikings in mock drafts in recent weeks, and it makes sense given their safety situation.
Kiper explains the Terrell pick, writing, “Harrison Smith is 37 years old; he might retire this offseason, and even if he returns, the safety room in Minnesota still has to be replenished. How about a Smith clone? Thieneman might not have Smith’s 6-foot-2 size (he’s 6-foot), but he reads the QB well and is savvy. That matters a lot in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ defense, which asks a lot of rookies. Plus, Thieneman has versatility to move around the alignment, is a force against the run and had a six-INT season at Purdue back in 2023 before transferring to Oregon. He’d be a seamless fit in the Vikings’ defense.”
Thieneman is a clone of Harrison Smith in terms of playstyle, and would be a seamless fit for Brian Flores as he potentially schemes without his future Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: NFL mock draft: Vikings get safety help from Mel Kiper Jr.