After a breakout season by Cole Bishop, he still needs a safety partner to shore up the backend of the defense. Dillon Thieneman could be the guy to do that.
Acolades:
- 2025 First-Team All-American
- 2023 Third-Team All-American
- 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the year
- 2025 First-Team All-Big Ten
- 2023 Third-Team All-Big Ten
NFL Comp: Jevon Holland
Pros:
- Flies around on the backend, around the ball constantly
- Plays exceptionally hard, doesn’t take plays off
- Great run defender
- Played in the box/slot a ton, almost a small 4-3 linebacker
- Three year starter in college
- Extremely fluid athlete, tested great at the combine
- Born 7 days after me
Cons:
- Misses tackles more than you’d hope, 40 in his three seasons
- Along with the missed tackles, pursuit angles are inconsistent
- Mans coverage skills are below average-to-bad
- Won’t shed tackles once engaged
His fit with the Bills:
In terms of my realistic hopefulls at pick 26, Thieneman is in my top three, possibly the top guy. If drafted, he immediatley becomes the starting safety alongside Cole Bishop. It’s a great fit as well, as Bishop played 515 snaps at free safety, just about 50% of his snaps. Thieneman played 552 snaps in the box and at slot corner, accounting for 68% of his snaps this past season at Oregon. He also still has the ability to drop back in coverage with 247 snaps at free safety as well, giving defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard two safeties to rotate around the defense. The team did sign two players at the position this free agency, which may move safety back in the rankings of positional needs. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was the bigger move of the two signings, and will likely start the season alongside Bishop, even if Thieneman is drafted. However, he’s only on a one-year deal, and is not a long term answer at the position. Geno Stone was also signed, but he could potentially get cut and not make the final 53-man roster and it wouldn’t surprise me. He would cost nothing to cut, and with Jordan Hancock still on the roster, he may be the fifth safety on the roster. With that being said, I don’t think he does. Even if he’s not a starter or primary backp, he’s great injury insurance, as well as a veteran to have in a young safety room. It’s likely that Thieneman won’t make it to 26, but if he does, Joe Brady and Brandon Beane should be running to the podium to hand in a card that said “pick 26, Dillon Thieneman, safety, University of Oregon.”
