The safety position is suddenly a huge need for the Pittsburgh Steelers going into the 2026 offseason. Kyle Dugger, Chuck Clark, and Jabrill Peppers are all set to hit free agency, and it’s not guaranteed that Jalen Ramsey will return next season either. Deshon Elliott is returning from a major injury, and he has no guaranteed money left on his contract.
It’s not a stretch to say this position is influx and while it’s certainly not the biggest need for Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t be a surprise for them to address the position in the draft. And one of the top safety prospects in the draft is Dillon Thieneman, a three-year starter who played at Purdue and Oregon. So let’s dive into his scouting profile and see how he might fit Patrick Graham’s defense moving forward:
Dillon Thieneman 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6002
Weight: 205 pounds
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.50
Recruiting: 3-star recruit, 988th ranked recruit nationally, 85th ranked safety
College Production: 39 games, 306 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 8 INTs, 14 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Positives:
- Extremely versatile safety who has spent a significant amount of time in the slot, in the box, and as a deep safety.
- Does not miss very many open-field tackles. Tackle rate improved each season in college football.
- Shows range and instincts when lined up as a free safety. Arguably his best position.
- Quickly identifies screens and underneath routes and flies to the football.
- Digs at the football and has a knack for knocking the ball away at the last minute.
- Outstanding production with over 300 combined tackles and eight interceptions (six of which came during 2023 season).
Teams that value ball production and versatility will love what Thieneman has to offer. He played all over for Oregon, and his instincts improved in each season. While he’s not the most physical tackler, he is as reliable as it gets despite being a drag-down tackler (for the most part). His versatility and fluidness in coverage will allow him to fit any defense and have a long NFL career.
Negatives:
- Not a physical tackler. Uses his body weight to drag down defenders and doesn’t possess much stopping power.
- Lack of power shows up when taking on blocks. Tight ends can overwhelm him in space.
- Does not take on blocks particularly well.
- He’s a good athlete, but not a special athlete. And that could show up more in man-to-man coverage in the NFL.
The lack of top-end physical traits may cap his ceiling in the NFL, as he’ll never be the biggest or fastest safety. He’s not a physical enforcer who will terrify receivers to come across the middle of the field, and his lack of upper-body strength does show up when trying to disengage from blocks.
Dillon Thieneman NFL Player Comparison: Tre’von Moehrig, S, Carolina Panthers
Moehrig was a versatile safety at TCU with a ton of experience and ball production (seven interceptions). Moehrig was a good athlete and was used all over the field in college. And that’s been the case with him in the NFL so far. Funny enough, Moehrig was drafted by the Raiders in 2021 and played under Patrick Graham for most of his career.
While Moehrig has never been a Pro Bowl safety, he’s been a high-quality starter and has started 80 games in five seasons. There are a lot of similarities between Moehrig and Thieneman in their play styles, and he would be a welcome addition to the defensive backfield for Pittsburgh.
Dillon Thieneman Fit With The Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Graham has always preferred safeties who can move around, and some of his best work came with Tre’von Moehrig on the backend. Safety isn’t the big need for Pittsburgh, but if Graham feels like Thieneman can upgrade the secondary, he could be a target. Getting younger and more athletic on the backend has to be a priority for Pittsburgh this offseason, and Thieneman would accomplish both of those goals.
Dillon Thieneman NFL Draft Grade: Late Round 1
Thieneman is a well-rounded safety prospect with three years of high-quality experience and production. He’s a versatile safety who can play just about every spot in the secondary and flies to the football. The only knocks on Thieneman are the lack of play strength and elite measurables, but both are easy to hide at the next level. Thieneman might be a bit of a reach at pick No. 21 for Pittsburgh, but he is a really good player who could be a Day 1 starter for the Steelers.