ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is considered by many to be the Godfather of mock drafts and NFL Draft analysis as a whole. Having done this for nearly 50 years, Kiper is considered by many to be the standard of the industry.

When he releases mock drafts, you immediately pay attention. How he’s handled the Vikings over the course of the NFL Draft cycle has been interesting, yet consistent.

Mel Kiper Jr. keeps consistent with Minnesota Vikings in final mock draft

In his final mock draft, Kiper has the Vikings taking the same player he had in the previous two mock drafts: Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman.

Along with many evaluators, I’ve been projecting Thieneman to Minnesota since before the combine. There’s still uncertainty around Harrison Smith‘s status, but it’s sort of irrelevant because the Vikings have to start planning for the future at safety whether or not Smith is back there in 2026. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores would have Thieneman lined up all over the place to create havoc. He can create turnovers (eight career interceptions), too.

Gotta hand it to Kiper, he’s been steady the entire time when it comes to Thieneman. The aspect that is the most tired is the inclusion of Smith.

Yes, he is uncertain to return, but the connection feels relatively lazy. Thieneman looks like Smith, but the playstyle isn’t there. Thieneman isn’t the versatile safety many are painiting him out to be.

The Ducks asked him to play the majority of his time in the box and it’s fascinating how many are putting him as a player who should play center field. His best role is to play from the roof and crash downhill in the running game. That’s not a role in Brian Flores’ defense.

It’s far and away the most popular pick for the Vikings, but it shouldn’t be.