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Todd McShay

Find the most comprehensive analysis on [Player Name], featuring Todd McShay’s evaluations. Official measurables, advanced analytics, and a scout’s eye provide the most in-depth breakdown of a prospect’s strengths and weaknesses, NFL draft projection, and potential at the next level.

Safety

Dillon Thieneman

Grade91 /100
Pos Rank2
OVR Rank19
School
ORE

Experience

Played39
Started39

POSITION STATS LAST SEASON

Tackles
92
PBU
5
INTs
2
Todd McShay

Position-Specific Grades

COMBINE RESULTS

Height
6' 0 1/8"
Weight
201lbs
ARM
31 3/8"
HAND
9"
40-Yard Dash
4.35sec
Todd McShay
10-Yard Split
1.52sec
Vertical
41
Todd McShay

The Takeaway

The Player

Thieneman is an experienced three-year starter with loads of reps at free safety, slot cornerback, and in the box. He has a unique blend of size, speed, explosive traits, instincts, and ball production. His performance at the combine—including a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical, and 10-foot-5 broad jump—was nothing short of sensational, and NFL sources told me his interviews were similarly impressive. Thieneman was a high-impact starter during his two seasons at Purdue (2023-24), racking up 210 tackles, eight pass breakups, six INTs (all as a freshman FS in 2023) and two forced fumbles. He transferred to Oregon for the 2025 season, where he played a high percentage of snaps in the slot and in the box (569, compared to 262 at FS) and finished with 92 tackles, five pass breakups, two INTs, 3.5 TFL and a sack. By comparison, he played nearly two-thirds of his snaps at free safety (1,173 snaps) during his first two seasons at Purdue (only 418 at slot or in box).

Thieneman’s football IQ really stands out, especially in coverage. He has excellent range in deep-zone coverage, fast eyes, early jumps, and elite closing burst to the ball. I love the angles he takes attacking the football in the air. He trusts his hands. He has a fast trigger versus the run and is at his best facing the quarterback, planting and driving downhill, and using proper angles and savvy to clip ballcarriers in a hurry. 

He has some tightness and needs to be protected from matching with sudden WRs in deeper coverage. And he doesn’t have the ideal size to hold up frequently in the box in the NFL. He also comes in hot when filling the alley and will miss some tackles as a result. He’s not a thumper or powerful striker as a tackler. He will hit with some initial force but frequently needs to wrap and corral or drag down opponents.

The Draft

NFL teams looking for versatile chess pieces on defense—specifically safeties that can hold up in the box, cover in the slot, and also handle deep-third responsibility—will covet Thieneman’s talent. He’s one of three safeties, along with Caleb Downs and

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who belongs in RD1 of the 2026 NFL draft.

The Projection

Thieneman is a day-one starter in the NFL. His versatile skill set, combined with his exceptional traits, makes him a defensive coordinator’s dream. His game has shades of Dax Hill, Alontae Taylor, and Jevon Holland in terms of versatility. Thieneman has the size of Holland and a similar build but the speed of Hill and Taylor. Thieneman has better coverage instincts than Taylor and is a much more physical player than Hill.