Daniel Jeremiah sends Minnesota Vikings surprising player in first round with direct comparison to a future Hall of Famer

The Vikings need to replace Harrison Smith, and taking this player in round one is a fascinating idea.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, brings down Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, brings down Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The NFL Draft is only a few months away, and mock drafts are coming fast and furious. The NFL Scouting Combine is next week, and the draft class is going to be shaped considerably from where it is today.

Through 145 mock drafts, the Vikings have been sent a cornerback 89 times, with Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell being the selection in 53 of those. The Vikings can go in a multitude of directions in the NFL Draft, and we got a new entrant to the mock draft tracker.

Minnesota Vikings take Harrison Smith replacement in Daniel Jeremiah mock draft

The secondary needs to be a focus for the Vikings this offseason, including at safety. Harrison Smith is likely going to retire, and the only safety you have confidence in is Josh Metellus. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Vikings going secondary, but taking a safety in Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks.

“After studying Thieneman’s impressive 2025 tape at Oregon, I went back and watched the film from his career at Purdue, where he played in 2023 and ’24. His range and playmaking skills were evident back then, too. He would be an excellent replacement for Harrison Smith.”

Thieneman is a fascinating player. He thrived at Purdue during 2023 and 2024, and transferred to Oregon ahead of last season. He showcased the ability to attack in the running game and play coverage, and thrived on one of the better defenses in college football last season.

I have concerns that Thieneman is a first-round caliber prospect, especially from an athleticism standpoint. If you are a first-round player, I want to see top-tier athleticism, something that I don’t get on film. If he was there in round two, this would be a lot more appealing.

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