The Minnesota Vikings await Harrison Smith’s decision on a potential return to the team.
General consensus had this as Smith’s final season in the NFL. However, that has been the thought for three straight seasons. There is still the possibility looming that Smith returns to Minnesota for a 15th season.
Regardless if he decides to come back or not, the Vikings will likely have to add young talent at the safety position in the draft. Smith obviously isn’t getting younger, and the rest of the safety room leaves a bit to be desired.
Amid the uncertainty, the Vikings keep drawing a ton of interest to one key prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Over the last 24 hours, at least three publications have mocked Dillon Thieneman to the Vikings at 18th overall.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN was the author of one of the mock drafts, providing some insight into the fit Thieneman would have in Minnesota.
“I had Thieneman to the Vikings in my last mock draft. He reminds me a lot of Smith in the way he reads the QB and reacts in a flash. I could see defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting creative with Thieneman, lining him up all over the formation and letting him use his great ball skills to pile up takeaways.”
“With Harrison Smith’s future in doubt, Thieneman would make sense as both a short- and long-term solution. One of the combine’s standouts, the Ducks All-American is a rangy player who can be weaponized all over the field.”
Then, there was Mike Renner of CBS Sports adding to the Thieneman-to-Minnesota steam.
“Dillon Thieneman has the range and coverage versatility to be a weapon in Brian Flores’ defense. He’s been making plays on the ball since recording six interceptions as a true freshman at Purdue.”
All of these mock drafts had Thieneman going at 18th overall to the Vikings. Thieneman was the first safety coming off of the board in all 3 mocks, with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren going later in the first round in all of them as well.
In 2022, the Vikings took secondary prospects with their first two selections in the draft. Lewis Cine went 32nd, and Andrew Booth Jr. was taken 42nd overall.
Now, both of these gentlemen aren’t even in the league. This failure to produce young talent set the Vikings’ defense back badly for the seasons following. In fact, the entire draft did so.
With the signing of Ty Chandler by the Saints on Tuesday, zero players remain from the 2022 NFL Draft class. Likewise, the GM that ran it in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, was also let go from his role in January.
The secondary took the biggest hit in this draft, as the Vikings spent their two most valuable selections on it, and got absolutely nothing with them. The disastrous trade-down with the Detroit Lions also cost them Kyle Hamilton, arguably the best safety in the league today.…Read more by Brevan Bane