Though the Pittsburgh Steelers addressed most of their biggest roster weaknesses in free agency, there's an overwhelming belief that they will go with an offensive player in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh could use a true No. 1 wide receiver to build Mike McCarthy's offense around, and they currently have concerns on the left side of the offensive line.
But one surging defender could force general manager Omar Khan to rewrite the team's draft plans in Round 1.
Dillon Thieneman is a fast-rising player who has turned heads throughout the pre-draft process. The 21-year-old safety played two seasons with Purdue before transferring to Oregon in 2025. Now he's leaving school for the NFL Draft, and he could hear his name called in the top half of Round 1.
But in the unlikely event Thieneman happens to slip past safety-needy teams like the Minnesota Vikings (pick No. 18) and the Dallas Cowboys (picks No. 12 and No. 20), the Steelers could be lurking to snatch him up at pick No. 21.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could abandon offense in Round 1 if Dillon Thieneman is still on the board
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't drafted a safety who's gone on to earn a single Pro Bowl selection since Troy Polamalu in 2003. While other safeties—like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ryan Clark, or Jalen Ramsey—have earned Pro Bowl honors with the team, these were either trade acquisitions or free-agent signings.
Though the Steelers already have heavy resources invested in defense, they have only drafted one safety in the first round since Polamalu (Terrell Edmunds in 2018), and Thieneman could sway them to finally break this streak.
At 6'0 1/8'' and 201 pounds, with a 78 1/8'' wingspan, Thieneman has only average size at the safety position. However, this checks a box. Meanwhile, his athletic testing was through the roof. At the 2026 NFL Combine, Thieneman ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash while posting a 41-inch vertical jump.
Thieneman combines rare athletic traits at the postion with impressive instincts and outstanding ball skills. The young safety raked in six interceptions in 12 games as a true freshman in 2023 at Purdue. This past season with Oregon, the talented safety nabbed two picks. All the while, Thieneman has averaged over 100 total tackles per year in his three college seasons.
READ MORE: Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft: Dillon Thieneman Scouting Report
The splash playmaker in the secondary has also earned exceptional grades from Pro Football Focus over the past three seasons. In 2023, Thieneman earned an 89.5 overall grade from PFF, per PFF's 2026 big board. After a bit of a down year in 2024 (72.4 grade), Thieneman bounced back with a remarkable 91.0 overall grade in 2025. This included just an 8.3 percent missed-tackle rate, with an impressive 17.2 percent forced-incompletion rate.
Though the Steelers lost safeties Kyle Dugger, Chuck Clark, and Jabrill Peppers in free agency, Pittsburgh signed Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage this offseason. They will join Jalen Ramsey (who can play either safety or cornerback) and DeShon Elliott (who missed all but five games last season).
Despite the team's recent acquisitions at the position, the Steelers still need youth, stability, and upside at safety. Thieneman would offer all three from Day 1.
Dillon Thieneman is a box-checker at the safety position with Pro Bowl upside. And if he makes it to pick No. 21, he might be the one defensive player in this class who could force the Pittsburgh Steelers to ignore addressing the offense in Round 1.