Harrison Smith, Vikings
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Vikings safety Harrison Smith
The Minnesota Vikings are facing a future without Harrison Smith and are apparently invested in finding an heir apparent to the 14-year veteran safety.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his latest mock draft ahead of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, based on what executives, scouts and coaches in the league have told him.
Kiper’s mock draft suggests league sources believe the Vikings are preparing for a future without Smith.
‘How About a Smith Clone?’: Vikings Select Oregon S Dillon Thieneman to Succeed Harrison Smith in Latest NFL Mock Draft
After restructuring his contract last March, Smith’s deal is set to void before the start of the new league year. The past two offseasons have seen speculation that Smith is contemplating his retirement. He’s put it off for the past two seasons by accepting new deals with the team.
That could happen again with March free agency ahead, but regardless, Kiper sees the Vikings ready to invest a first-round pick into replacing the 37-year-old safety.
Kiper projected the Vikings, holders of the No. 18 pick in the first round of April’s draft, to select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, whom he called a “Smith clone.”
“Harrison Smith is 37 years old; he might retire this offseason, and even if he returns, the safety room in Minnesota still has to be replenished. How about a Smith clone? Thieneman might not have Smith’s 6-foot-2 size (he’s 6-foot), but he reads the QB well and is savvy,” Kiper wrote on February 24. “That matters a lot in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ defense, which asks a lot of rookies. Plus, Thieneman has versatility to move around the alignment, is a force against the run and had a six-INT season at Purdue back in 2023 before transferring to Oregon. He’d be a seamless fit in the Vikings’ defense.”
Oregon S Dillon Thieneman Scouting Report
As Kiper noted, Flores’ scheme requires versatility and a multitude of looks, often deploying three safeties on the field at the same time.
One of the greatest safeties at disguising pre-snap, Smith’s marauding role in Flores defense could be realized by Thieneman, who averaged over 100 tackles in three seasons of college, along with totaling 10.0 tackles for loss and eight interceptions.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein touted Thieneman’s instincts and IQ in his scouting report.
“Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning. He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man. He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary.”
Thieneman’s draft stock has climbed in recent months — although the Vikings selecting him at No. 18 could be considered a reach. Numerous draft analysts have found him to be worth the No. 18 pick. Former NBC Sports analyst Chris Trapasso has a higher grade on Thieneman than consensus top-10 pick at safety, Caleb Downs.
Chris Trapasso
*whispers*
entering the combine, I have a higher grade on Dillon Thieneman than Caleb Downs
Safeties are expected to work out on Friday in Indianapolis.