Dillon Thieneman

[Ramon Ram]

Interesting read from Fantasy Pros

Dillon Thieneman (S)​

“It’s Christmas time for 32 NFL fan bases, and on Thursday night, they finally get to see what’s under the tree. No more hints, no more guessing, we finally get to see what the NFL has in store for us. But just like at Christmas, there is always that one surprise gift, and in the 2026 NFL Draft, that gift may come from the Los Angeles Rams when they select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 13 overall. Most mocks have the Rams taking a wide receiver to pair with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams or an offensive tackle to beef up their front after Rob Havenstein’s retirement. Names like Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and Monroe Freeling keep appearing for good reason. But what I’ve heard from my scouting contacts is that the player the Rams are absolutely enamored with is Thieneman. At 6’0″, 201 pounds, he ran a 4.35 forty and posted a 41-inch vertical at the Combine. On tape, he’s one of the most productive and versatile safeties in the class: over 300 career tackles, including 92 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INTs, and 5 PBUs in 2025 at Oregon. He played deep, nickel, robber, and run support without missing a beat. He’s a confident, downhill striker with a nose for the football and the football IQ to wear the green dot as a rookie. The Rams have already upgraded the corner room with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Thieneman would be the missing eraser on the back end, a flexible chess piece next to Quentin Lake, who lets them mix coverages week to week. It’s clear that Les Snead and Sean McVay think the reason why they were not Super Bowl champs last year came down to the secondary, and they will not make that mistake again. This regime has routinely drafted the best player available when the grade is clear, even if it breaks consensus. With the wide receiver depth in this class, they can wait on that need. If Thieneman is there at 13, don’t be shocked when the card comes in. It would be the 2026 version of the Michael Penix surprise; unexpected, and sending a ripple effect through the entirety of the draft.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (The Armchair Sports Corner)

 

[12intheBox]

Would be one of those picks that I really got behind after about 15 minutes of bitching about it.

 

[Ramon Ram]

I love this mock from Peter, get picks and a player we like though Thieneman is there too at 17. He is all around us in several mocks. Tough thing for me is I will be in a suite watching Springsteen during the draft.

2026 NFL mock draft: Schrager projects 32 first-round picks

Could teams jump all around Round 1 and shake things up? Will Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles go in the top five? Here's what Peter Schrager is hearing and predicting.

www.espn.com

 

[Loyal]

Would be one of those picks that I really got behind after about 15 minutes of bitching about it.

Preach!

 

[Flatlyner]

Would be one of those picks that I really got behind after about 15 minutes of bitching about it.

Exactly the same. Then I'd also start worrying about our 3rd WR and a swing OT.

 

[FaulkSF]

I love this mock from Peter, get picks and a player we like though Thieneman is there too at 17. He is all around us in several mocks. Tough thing for me is I will be in a suite watching Springsteen during the draft.

2026 NFL mock draft: Schrager projects 32 first-round picks

Could teams jump all around Round 1 and shake things up? Will Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles go in the top five? Here's what Peter Schrager is hearing and predicting.

www.espn.com

I’d rather have Cooper Jr. in this scenario, but not a bad consolation prize considering Higs’ potential retirement window

 

[Ram65]

Thieneman was on my radar before the trade with the Rams pick. A trade down for him won't be a good move.​

 

[Ground Chuck]

Would be one of those picks that I really got behind after about 15 minutes of bitching about it.

Reminds me of that other time the Rams had the 13th pick and WASTED it on that squat-bodied DT from Pitt, even though we were STACKED at DT with Brockers, and that total stud, Kendall Langford.

Whatever happed to that pick anyway?

 

[snackdaddy]

As much as I want Lemon, I'll admit Thieneman is interesting. Would be nice if we had a centerfielder who can play sideline to sideline ala Earl Thomas. He's got the speed for it. Just don't know if he has the natural instincts.

 

[BonifayRam]

I prefer seeing the Rams drafting DEFENSIVE selections on day 1 & 2. Defensive selections usually contribute faster & better than offensive players. Over decades I see clear evidence of early dividends from defensive picks. McVay rarely puts rookies or even 2nd yr players on the field. Many drafted players just sit on the bench or stand on the sideline in shorts waiting for their 4 yr rookie contracts to conclude.

Rams have Five starting DB's now. Snead just utilized very large current & future wealth $124 million & 4 draft sections to put DB Trent McDuffie on the field. Snead followed up with over $ 50 mil invested in DB Jaylen Watson. Resigned starting DB Kamren Curl investing another $36 mil. Earlier signed DB Quentin Lake to a over $41 million. Then there is 2 yr starting DB Kamren Kinchens.

The safety room has been grooming Safety/Nickel Jaylen McCollough for 2 seasons as the top reserve & he is a constant in ST's & played very well for a UDFA for pennies. McCollough was a starter for most of the 2025 season in the Star post filling in for injured Quentin Lake for over 46% of the total defensive snaps.

In spite of my comments above, I would feel very good about drafting Safety Dillon Thieneman over selecting any of the WR prospects in this draft class with our No# 1 #13 selection. Then Plan for Dillon Thieneman to take deep safety Kamren Kinchens starting post in 2027.

 

[majrleaged]

Interesting read from Fantasy Pros

Dillon Thieneman (S)​

“It’s Christmas time for 32 NFL fan bases, and on Thursday night, they finally get to see what’s under the tree. No more hints, no more guessing, we finally get to see what the NFL has in store for us. But just like at Christmas, there is always that one surprise gift, and in the 2026 NFL Draft, that gift may come from the Los Angeles Rams when they select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 13 overall. Most mocks have the Rams taking a wide receiver to pair with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams or an offensive tackle to beef up their front after Rob Havenstein’s retirement. Names like Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and Monroe Freeling keep appearing for good reason. But what I’ve heard from my scouting contacts is that the player the Rams are absolutely enamored with is Thieneman. At 6’0″, 201 pounds, he ran a 4.35 forty and posted a 41-inch vertical at the Combine. On tape, he’s one of the most productive and versatile safeties in the class: over 300 career tackles, including 92 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INTs, and 5 PBUs in 2025 at Oregon. He played deep, nickel, robber, and run support without missing a beat. He’s a confident, downhill striker with a nose for the football and the football IQ to wear the green dot as a rookie. The Rams have already upgraded the corner room with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Thieneman would be the missing eraser on the back end, a flexible chess piece next to Quentin Lake, who lets them mix coverages week to week. It’s clear that Les Snead and Sean McVay think the reason why they were not Super Bowl champs last year came down to the secondary, and they will not make that mistake again. This regime has routinely drafted the best player available when the grade is clear, even if it breaks consensus. With the wide receiver depth in this class, they can wait on that need. If Thieneman is there at 13, don’t be shocked when the card comes in. It would be the 2026 version of the Michael Penix surprise; unexpected, and sending a ripple effect through the entirety of the draft.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (The Armchair Sports Corner)

I would love that pick. I was thinking one of the miami pass rushers, but maybe the Rams version of Polamalu would really be the best upgrade for the team.

 

[Memento]

I'd only really draft a cornerback if it was D'Angelo Ponds in the second-round (unlikely, but possible). I still am a huge fan of Forbes; he may have faded down the stretch, but he still was almost tops in the league for passes defensed (tied for third with 17), and he improved his tackling a lot.

If he's your third cornerback, I think you're in a good situation. I'd draft late and sign UDFAs for depth, but nothing more.

I also don't like drafting a safety to put Kinchens on the bench. Lake and Curl are our starters, and if Kinchens, McCollough, and Wallace are our depth, that's also a good situation. I'm a fan of Downs, Thieneman, and McNeal-Warren, but not to the point where I draft them - Downs aside - with my first.

 

[majrleaged]

I love this mock from Peter, get picks and a player we like though Thieneman is there too at 17. He is all around us in several mocks. Tough thing for me is I will be in a suite watching Springsteen during the draft.

2026 NFL mock draft: Schrager projects 32 first-round picks

Could teams jump all around Round 1 and shake things up? Will Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles go in the top five? Here's what Peter Schrager is hearing and predicting.

www.espn.com

much better way to spend the night.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I prefer seeing the Rams drafting DEFENSIVE selections on day 1 & 2. Defensive selections usually contribute faster & better than offensive players. Over decades I see clear evidence of early dividends from defensive picks. McVay rarely puts rookies or even 2nd yr players on the field. Many drafted players just sit on the bench or stand on the sideline in shorts waiting for their 4 yr rookie contracts to conclude.

Rams have Five starting DB's now. Snead just utilized very large current & future wealth $124 million & 4 draft sections to put DB Trent McDuffie on the field. Snead followed up with over $ 50 mil invested in DB Jaylen Watson. Resigned starting DB Kamren Curl investing another $36 mil. Earlier signed DB Quentin Lake to a over $41 million. Then there is 2 yr starting DB Kamren Kinchens.

The safety room has been grooming Safety/Nickel Jaylen McCollough for 2 seasons as the top reserve & he is a constant in ST's & played very well for a UDFA for pennies. McCollough was a starter for most of the 2025 season in the Star post filling in for injured Quentin Lake for over 46% of the total defensive snaps.

In spite of my comments above, I would feel very good about drafting Safety Dillon Thieneman over selecting any of the WR prospects in this draft class with our No# 1 #13 selection. Then Plan for Dillon Thieneman to take deep safety Kamren Kinchens starting post in 2027.

McCollough to me is what he is at this point. He wasn't great as a fill in for Star and hasn't really shown he can take over as a half-field safety BUT he is great in the dime-backer role.

Dillon would be amazing for us but he does make having Kinchens moot. That's fine as we should be able to move him (it'll be for peanuts but that's okay). Basically Dillon and can play every spot at safety/Star and allows us to keep Lake on one side of the field and simply have the safeties rotate when pass catchers go in motion for the other team which is already what we did with Lake but it'll work even better.

 

[ScotsRam]

I love this mock from Peter, get picks and a player we like though Thieneman is there too at 17. He is all around us in several mocks. Tough thing for me is I will be in a suite watching Springsteen during the draft.

2026 NFL mock draft: Schrager projects 32 first-round picks

Could teams jump all around Round 1 and shake things up? Will Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles go in the top five? Here's what Peter Schrager is hearing and predicting.

www.espn.com

I have seen the Boss 26 times. I would rather be doing that than watching the draft. And I fucking love the draft.

 

[Boston Ram]

I wouldnt hate it. My defensive draft dream is Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles, but Thieneman is a decent concellation prize but would prefer him a couple picks later if im being selfish

 

[Tano]

Reminds me of that other time the Rams had the 13th pick and WASTED it on that squat-bodied DT from Pitt, even though we were STACKED at DT with Brockers, and that total stud, Kendall Langford.

Whatever happed to that pick anyway?

That player sucked

 

[Ground Chuck]

I have seen the Bitch 26 times. I would rather be doing that than watching the draft. And I fucking love the draft.

Fixed it. All subjective, of course

 

[Ramon Ram]

I have seen the Boss 26 times. I would rather be doing that than watching the draft. And I fucking love the draft.

This will be last of about 55 shows and between draft and Yanks vs Sox tough night

 

[OldSchool]

Any of those top 3 safeties would be nice additions.