2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Breaking down the strengths, weak points, usage, and projected role of Oregon S Dillon Thieneman. Plus: grades and schematic fit

Updated: 03/23/2026

Note: This season, I’m posting full scouting reports of a ton of players — as well as written columns on some of the top or most intriguing prospects. This is the format I file to scouting services, and that mirrors the “one sheets” you see in NFL front offices — with some explanations about position critical traits for readers. The written-through columns will have deeper explanations on some of the scouting terms and, more importantly, why they matter. Those will come throughout the draft cycle. But I’ve had requests for these quick-to-read reports, and so here they are! I’ve updated my process this season, based on the Chargers model that stems from Michigan and is now used in Baltimore and Seattle. If you want to understand more about the changes and any verbiage, I explained some of that process on the first scouting evaluations podcast with Jon Ledyard.

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2026 NFL Draft Hub

Prospect: Dillon Thieneman | Jersey #: 31 | Pro Pos.: S | College Pos.: Hybrid

School: Oregon | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 201lbs | Speed: 4.35; 1.52

Explosive Index: 9.67 | Age: 22 (Jr) | Final Grade: 7.93 (Quality Starter)

Draft Projection: Top-20

STRONG POINTS:

· A bouncy, energizer bunny safety who can play all over the formation.

· Thieneman is a light, savvy safety who was used largely as the central safety in three-safety sets or as an auxiliary linebacker in 5-2 fronts in 2025. Back at Purdue in 2024, he played in a more traditional two-safety structure, toggling between a half-field role and playing as a middle-of-the-field post safety. At Oregon, he operated in the same role as Lewis Cine played in the Georgia defense in 2021 under Dan Lanning. I fell for Cine in that draft, thinking his awareness and skills would level up would allow him to play in more space. As middle safety in a three-safety set, the vision of the player is streamlined; they aren’t forced to play with the panoramic view of the field that traditional safeties are asked to. Cine, obviously, was a bust (for reasons other than his schematic fit). Fortunately, Thieneman’s Purdue tape shows a more well-rounded safety prospect.

· Not an explosive leaper, but quick on a direct line. Tested like a freak athlete, but doesn’t always play to that speed. Gathers speed as he fires, effortlessly navigating through traffic. Takes efficient paths to the ball when attacking from depth. Was freed up to charge downhill from three safety sets. Put into an attack role by design, rather than reading and reacting.

· Light, choppy feet. A shifty mover with excellent stop-start quickness and fluidity when working top-down in a straight line.

· Excellent form-tackler on straight-ahead and angle tackles. Gets into good positions and accelerates on contact. Great tackling radar — and accelerates through his target. Gets people on the ground one-on-one and is always the first into the pile for a gang tackle. The best angle tackler in the safety class, particularly when driving from depth. Always attacking the ball when working as the second or third man in.

· Solid eyes in zone coverage when sitting as a MOF defender. Processes route combinations quickly. Hits his landmarks and plays to his help.

· Locates the ball well at the catchpoint. Disruptive and aggressive to dislodge the ball or pick it off.

· Physical into blocks and aggressive getting off blocks. Consistently forced into the run fit as an auxiliary mike linebacker. Flys down to the perimeter to take on runs and the screen game. Passes Jon Ledyard’s safety test as a “flat destroyer.”

· Sudden burst off the ball when mugged up as a blitzer or used as an auxilary ‘backer. Has the needed “oh shit” springs off the snap to bounce out to depth from a mugged alignment or form part of the pressure package.

· Agile feet to mirror and match when rotated down to the slot.

· An exceptional communicator. Consistently sniffs out plays based on down, distance and formation. Reacts at freakish speed, as though he were standing in the offensive huddle.

· Was responsible for aligning the secondary and linebackers at Oregon. Several plays where his teammates bite on fakes or backfield actions, but Thieneman finds the ball.

· Works through problems at lightning speed. Communicates constantly throughout the rep to ID targets for teammates.

· Plays will all-out effort on every rep.

· Work ethic is legendary at Oregon. Beat coaches into work to work out — was eventually locked out of the gym because he was turning up too early and needed to prioritize his recovery.

WEAK POINTS: