With the Steelers acquiring wide receiver help, draft focus could shift to safety, particularly Dillon Thieneman, Ray Fittipaldo believes. Pittsburgh has agreed to terms in a trade that will send them WR Michael Pittman Jr. from the Colts. While he still sees the position as a top option in the first round, he now sees safety right alongside. And one safety in particular.
“If I had to handicap right now what they’ll do at No. 21, I still say WR with one of those three safeties now firmly in the conversation”, Fittipaldo wrote in yesterday’s chat about the Steelers’ first-round plans in the draft. “I really like Dillon Thieneman from Oregon”.
And when he wrote really likes, he wasn’t kidding. Fittipaldo repeatedly peppered the chat with the notion that the Steelers could draft the safety Thieneman in the first round. He talked about how that could enable them to be flexible with Jalen Ramsey, for example.
“I’m glad is everyone is hopping on the Thieneman Train”, he wrote at another point, even going so far as to throw in an All aboard” and a “CHOO CHOO”. Because those are sounds associated with trains, you see. The Steelers have not drafted a safety in the first round since Troy Polamalu, but that worked out pretty well.
We covered Dillon Thieneman well over a month ago, though our Tom Mead was not quite as high on him. Since his Combine performance, he has raised his stock and is firmly in the discussion in the first round now. Draft analysts have already connected the dots to the Steelers and the safety, mocking Thieleman there in the first round.
“He’s a tremendous player, and he did very well in the testing at the combine”, Fittipaldo wrote. “All you have to do is watch him play to see how he can impact games at the next level. He has elite speed and instincts. Those are two really good qualities to have for a safety”.
The safety position is tricky in the first round of the draft, and they have a tendency to fall. Even top names have fallen, like Kyle Hamilton, though that was partly due to his 40 time. Dillon Thieneman ran an excellent 40 at 4.35 seconds, and the Steelers are looking for a playmaker in the secondary.
Not that Thieneman has necessarily been a consistent ballhawk. While he intercepted 6 passes as a freshman, he only has 2 since then. If the Steelers don’t draft Thieneman in the first round, there are others at safety to consider. Caleb Downs is the top name, but he is unlikely to be available when Pittsburgh drafts. If the Steelers fall in love with him, they could consider trading him, though.
What the Steelers’ plans are at safety, and the draft, is not entirely clear. They expect to have starter DeShon Elliott back, but is Jalen Ramsey their other starting safety? Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Chuck Clark are all unrestricted free agents. Reportedly, they intend to sign Darnell Savage, who has starting experience but is now a backup.
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