Oregon Ducks
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An Oregon Ducks football helmet
The Oregon Ducks are fresh off of another great season, although they once again came up short of winning a national championship.
Despite the disappointment of being eliminated by the Indiana Hoosiers, Dan Lanning and company are headed in the right direction. However, the Ducks are going to be losing some talent to the 2026 NFL Draft.
While star quarterback Dante Moore decided to return for one more season in Eugene, the same cannot be said of standout safety Dillon Thieneman.
After one season at Oregon following his transfer from the Purdue Boilermakers, Thieneman will be taking his talents to the professional ranks. That leads to the question of which NFL team will come calling to draft him in April.
Oregon Ducks Star Dillon Thieneman Linked to Super Bowl Contender
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski has projected that Thieneman will end up being selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Of course, not only are the Seahawks going to be a Super Bowl contender next season, they will also enter the year as defending champions after defeating the New England Patriots in the big game on Sunday night.
“The Seattle Seahawks’ secondary may undergo a significant overhaul this offseason, with Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe set to enter free agency,” Sobleski wrote.
Mike Macdonald’s defense blossomed in 2025 and earned its standing as the game’s top-scoring unit. By adding a talent such as Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, the Seahawks can retain significant flexibility within their defensive scheme, particularly after Nick Emmanwori’s emergence.”
Thieneman would be an excellent pickup for Seattle. He has star potential at the next level.
During the 2025 college football season with the Ducks, the talented defensive back racked up 92 total tackles to go along with a sack, two interceptions, and five defended passes. His skillset should transition nicely to the NFL.
Landing with the Seahawks Would Be a Dream Scenario
Anytime a young player gets a chance to join a Super Bowl winner, it’s usually a recipe for success. Seattle is set up to continue being a contender for years to come.
Mike Macdonald is an elite defensive coach. Being able to learn from him to begin Thieneman’s NFL career would be a nice first step. The Seahawks have also been known for quality defenses for many years.
No one can predict the future. Thieneman may not end up developing to reach his ceiling. However, beginning his career in Seattle would give him as good a chance as any.
Expect to hear more talk about the talented safety in the coming weeks leading up to the draft. Thieneman may have only played one season at Oregon, but he made an impact and the Ducks’ faithful will continue rooting him on at the next level.