Each year, the NFL Draft Combine features several players who rise above their draft class peers, prospects who put on a dazzling display to vault their draft status and projected landing spot to new heights.
One prime example is Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, with the standout from Eugene blowing away all in attendance with a 41-inch vertical along with a blazing 4.35 40-yard time. His combine exploits cemented his name in first-round discussions league-wide, and over at Ducks Wire, writer Logan Brown addressed five potential best fits for Thieneman, with the Philadelphia Eagles firmly in the mix:
"The Eagles have been great at drafting under general manager Howie Roseman, but sometimes they wind up fortunate when an elite talent falls in their lap. That could happen again with Thieneman, who would solve a big issue in the secondary in Philadelphia. The Eagles lost Reed Blankenship in free agency and traded Sydney Brown to the Falcons, so Thieneman could be another plug-and-play replacement on the back end alongside Cooper DeJean. If Thieneman doesn't fall to No. 23, he still might be a player the Eagles trade up for because of his versatility over the middle of the field. Adding an athletic freak to the secondary would only boost Philadelphia's defense in the long run."
Eagles could go after Dillon Thieneman in the first round
Following projected top 10 pick Caleb Downs out of Ohio State, Thieneman and Quinyon Mitchell's former teammate Emmanuel McNeil-Warren widely rounds out the top three safeties with analysts and scouts. Philadelphia has been rumored to have a strong interest in both McNeil-Warren and Thieneman, so their being named as a top landing spot makes a lot of sense.
It's worth noting that Brown also cited the Minnesota Vikings as a team that makes a ton of sense for Thieneman, given the recent retirement of longtime safety Harrison Smith. With the Vikings set to select at No.18, the Oregon All-American would fit defensive coordinator Brian Flores' preference for versatility at that spot like a glove. With this being the case, Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman could look to move up if he's steadfast on securing Thieneman, and if so, it could be well worth taking the leap.
After first starring at Purdue, Thieneman excelled as a Duck in his lone campaign in Eugene, registering 96 tackles along with a pair of interceptions to finish as a Jim Thorpe award semi-finalist.
Lauded for his rare versatility in maneuvering all over the Oregon defense, the Westfield, Indiana, product brings elite speed and stout tackling (3.5 tackles for loss) to the table.
With the addition of Tariq Woolen, the Philadelphia secondary now features an elite trio of Birds atop the NFL landscape at corner, yet the safety spot could use an infusion of new talent. Steady vet Marcus Epps is back in the fold, but Roseman could look to add a new running mate alongside Andrew Mukuba in the first round.
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Thieneman would arrive ready to make an impact from day one, a versatile chess piece for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to work with, and a unique talent capable of completing a dynamic Eagles' secondary.