The Jacksonville Jaguars add a speedy safety in one expert's latest mock draft.
Mock drafts are coming in full force for the 2026 NFL Draft, now that the first 24 picks of the draft are locked in.
Thursday was a good day to refresh mocks because Oregon quarterback Dante Moore announced Wednesday he would forego the draft and stay in the college ranks for another season.
That decision will have a domino effect on the rest of the draft, which takes place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, and should make the first round interesting.
One of the best draft analysts, Dane Brugler of The Athletic, released his latest mock draft on Thursday. You're likely thinking, "The Jaguars are irrelevant here because they do not have a first-round pick." The good news is that Brugler did the first round and picks for the teams that do not have a pick on the first day.
In this case, for the Jaguars, he tackles the secondary. Brugler has Jacksonville taking one of Moore's Ducks teammates, safety Dillon Thieneman.
Brugler says the Jaguars will be addressing the secondary this offseason "in multiple ways" and Thieneman could be a potential No. 56 overall because of his man-coverage skills and run-stopping ability.
The Jaguars have three defensive backs who played at least 450 snaps last season and are set to become free agents: safety Andrew Wingard and cornerbacks Montaric Brown and Greg Newsome II. (Newsome was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Cleveland Browns.)
Wingard amassed 84 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery on the season. Brown has 51 tackles and led the Jaguars with 12 passes defended. He added two interceptions for good measure.
Newsome had 29 tackles and one interception in 12 games and 11 start with the Jaguars, allowing five touchdowns and a 102.5 quarterback rating.
The Jaguars are also about $8 million over the salary cap, so moves will have to be made, and there's a chance Wingard will not be re-signed; therefore, adding a young replacement is on the table.
The Jaguars also will have Travis Hunter and Caleb Ransaw back in the mix in the secondary next season. The Jaguars have already said they expect Hunter to remain a two-way player next season. Ransaw was a third-round pick in 2025.
Thieneman recorded 92 total tackles in 2025 for the Ducks after transferring in from Purdue. The 21-year-old picked off two passes and added a sack. He averaged almost 100 tackles in three years playing with the Boilermakers and the Ducks.
Thieneman brings speed and excellent football intelligence to the table. He's a player who can fly around and cover just about anywhere on the field. He has also been viewed as a strong leader with high character.
In the AFC South, which features young quarterbacks that can move the ball (C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans and Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans) and showcases excellent run games (Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts), the Jaguars need to continue adding playmakers in the secondary.
Thieneman fits that bill, at least as far as Brugler tells it.
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