Mock draft season isoff and running, and on Monday, one of the most prominent analysts dropped his 1.0 mock, and it had two Ducks landing in perfect spots.
Mock drafts are glorified guesses for some of these draft analysts, but they do provide a good idea of where guys are valued in the big picture of the NFL's draft class.
Mel Kiper is a lifer when it comes to the draft. He has been covering the NFL Draft for over 30 years and is often regarded as one of the originals in an industry that has exploded over the past decade.
Kiper is a little bit late to the party with his first mock draft, but he dropped his first pass at it on Monday, and it had our two first-round Ducks finding two really good homes.
Pick No. 18: Minnesota Vikings Select Safety Dillon Thieneman
Thieneman was awesome for Oregon in his first year in Eugene. Similar to what Koi Perich is doing this year, he spent his first two seasons at his home school of Purdue before transferring to Oregon for his last go at it. He finished the year with 92 tackles, five pass breakups, and four interceptions on the year. Neither of those numbers were career high for the safety, but that just goes to show how productive he has been over his career.
The selection of Minnesota is a very good fit for the rookie. Minnesota is one of those first-class organizations that always has its mind set on winning football games. They have a very clear flaw on their roster, so they will never be a contender until they solve the quarterback position, but that has nothing to do with this draft pick.
Thieneman slots into a defense to become the heir apparent to safety Harrison Smith. The comparisons between the two are easy to make, and he could take the throne as the next long-term safety in the Twin Cities.
Pick No. 23: Philadelphia Eagles Select Tight End Kenyon Sadiq
Now this is one of my favorite fits for the freak athlete that is Sadiq. The NFL views Sadiq as a very unique ball of clay that is an unpolished prospect, but one that has a ceiling that is limitless.
© Ben Lonergan/The Reg | 2025 Nov 22 Sadiq's Oregon numbers don't necessarily jump off the page. He finished 2025 with 51 catches for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns. While those numbers are solid, it's his tape that stands out.
He can run every route. He is a legitimate vertical threat from the tight end position and is not afraid of a little physicality. Whoever gets Sadiq is taking a minor risk with very (very) high upside. In this case, Philly lands the former Duck, and he slots right into their offense perfectly.
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