This Oregon Ducks star has received a very surprising NFL Draft prediction.
Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq is widely expected to be the first Oregon player off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After all, Sadiq is an athletic freak who just ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of any tight end in the history of the Scouting Combine, and his versatility surely has NFL teams salivating.
But is it possible that Sadiq won't be the top Ducks player selected after all?
Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports recently published a mock draft and had Sadiq going to the Carolina Panthers at No. 19. But seven spots before him, he predicted that safety Dillon Thieneman would be selected by the Dallas Cowboys.
"Another surprise here. It seems like Dillon Thieneman is rising up draft boards quickly," Dajani wrote. "Not only can the former Oregon Duck create turnovers, but he's a willing participant in defending the run. Thieneman is also a legit athlete. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and registered a 41-inch vertical jump at the NFL Scouting Combine. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker will be able to play him at multiple spots."
Dillon Thieneman. Credit: Clark Wade/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Prior to the Combine, Thieneman was generally viewed as a Day 2 pick, but his stock has certainly risen quite a bit since.
This it the first time, however, that I've seen any project him to go this high.
The Cowboys definitely need help in their secondary, and while cornerback may be the better position for them to target, Dajani had LSU star Mansoor Delane — the No. 1 corner in this year's draft class — going to the New York Giants at No. 5.
With Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy recovering from a torn ACL, perhaps Dallas would feel that Thieneman is the safer pick for its defensive backfield.
Thieneman racked up 96 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a couple of interceptions and five interceptions this past season.
The 21-year-old began his collegiate career at Purdue in 2023 and got off to a tremendous start, rattling off 106 tackles and six picks during his freshman campaign.
Thieneman then spent one more season with the Boilermakers before transferring to Oregon.
While Thieneman may end up being a first-round pick later this month, it would be surprising to see him be selected as early as No. 12. But we'll see.
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