Assessing Dillon Thieneman's performance at the 2026 NFL Combine
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The OregonDucks football team has rarely missed on transfers ever since head coach Dan Lanning arrived in Eugene. But when safety Dillon Thieneman announced he was coming to Oregon after two seasons with a poor Purdue team, the Ducks knew they got a good one.
Thieneman didn't disappoint.
In his one season as a Duck, Thieneman has 96 tackles and two interceptions, including one pick that sealed the deal in the overtime win at Penn State. He was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection and the NFL projects Thieneman as a first-round draft pick. According to his NFL draft analysis, Thieneman projects as an immediate starter and is compared to another Duck, Jevon Holland.
According to NFL.com writer, Lance Zierlein, Thieneman is a defensive coordinator's dream
"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 said. "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."
Measurables
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 201 pounds
Hand Size: 9"
Arm Length: 31 3/8"
40-yard Dash
Time: 4.35 seconds
Rank at Position: 4th of 14 players
We all knew Thieneman was quick at his position, but now we know he is just flat-out fast. This kind of speed alone might have improved his draft stock by a few picks. As the video shows, Thieneman is faster than some of the nation's top receivers.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. from Ohio State led everyone with a time of 4.27 seconds.
10-Yard Split
Official Split Time: 1.52 seconds
Rank at Position: Tied for 4th of 14 players
The 10-yard split shows how quickly a player can start and get to full speed. With a time of about 1.5 seconds, Thieneman showed his speed can cover any kind of receiver, from the wideout to the slot.
Again, Styles, out of Ohio State, led the way with an incredible time of 1.49 seconds.
Vertical Jump
Official Measurement: 41"
Rank at Position: 2nd of 15 Players
Thieneman is just 6-feet tall, but he has elite leaping ability as he showed when he almost flew through the air to intercept a pass in overtime to defeat Penn State.
Broad Jump
Official Measurement: 10' 5"
Rank at Position: 8th of 12 Players
While it's not a great measurement, how many times does a defensive back have to do a broad jump in order to make a play? Not many. The vertical jump is a much better statistic to judge, especially for a safety on the short side. Thieneman's vertical showed he can defend those high passes that supposedly a tall receiver can get.
Thieneman will participate in the 3-Cone drill, bench press, and 20-Yard shuttle on Saturday.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Assessing Dillon Thieneman's performance at this year's NFL Combine
