With no first-round pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars target an All-American safety to bolster a playoff-tested secondary and rewrite their defensive future.
Jacksonville Jaguars fans are probably less excited about this year's NFL draft than most other fanbases are.
Why?
Because 28 teams have a first-round pick, and Jacksonville is one of the four that don't.
What the Jags gave up to get Travis Hunter at No. 2 last year means Jacksonville isn't picking until late in the second round, at No. 56.
The good news is that 1) the Jaguars have Hunter, and 2) they can still get a player like Oregon's Dillon Thieneman at pick No. 56.
In CBS Sports' latest mock draft, Josh Edwards explained that Jacksonville's secondary struggled in the playoffs.
This is a fair point, considering Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen went 28-of-35 for 273 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Edwards feels that the Jags might be wise to address cornerback and safety over the offseason.
At cornerback, Jordun Lewis is going to be 31 by the 2026 season opener, and just had foot surgery last month. Cornerback is a young man's position, and it's fair to wonder how good Lewis will be going forward. At safety, the Bucs might have to replace veteran Andrew Wingard, who is a free agent and close to 30 himself.
This is where Thieneman will come in.
Edwards complimented Thienemen for his football IQ, as well as his length at 6-feet, 205 pounds.
In Thieneman's lone season at Oregon, the Purdue transfer was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten performer, playing well enough to declare for the draft.
Thieneman ended the season second on Oregon's defense with 64 tackles, adding four pass breakups, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions.
One of those interceptions might have literally changed the course of college football history.
With Oregon clinging to a 30-24 lead at Penn State in double overtime, all Penn State needed was a touchdown and a two-point conversion -- thanks to a bizarre college football rule -- to win the game.
On the first play of the possession, Thienemen intercepted Drew Allar's pass and sealed it for the Ducks.
Had Thienemen not made that pick, Penn State may have won the game, and the losing streak that got James Franklin fired from Penn State and led to Matt Campbell leaving Iowa State for Happy Valley may never have happened.
The NFL draft is scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Jacksonville won't be picking until April 24.
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