Dillon Thieneman projected ahead of Kenyon Sadiq in NFL Draft
· Yahoo Sports
The Oregon Ducks expect to hear several names called in the 2026 NFL Draft and potentially have multiple names announced in the first round.
With the draft just one month away, many former Ducks are being tossed around in mock drafts, predicting where their NFL careers will begin. ESPN's Field Yates revealed his latest two-round mock draft on Tuesday, featuring three of Oregon's stars from last season.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
A trend amongst NFL Draft experts continued in Yates' predictions with safety Dillon Thieneman being the first Duck off the board at No. 18 overall, going to the Minnesota Vikings. After his draft stock skyrocketed with a strong performance at the NFL combine, Thieneman is widely expected to become a first-round pick and join a Brian Flores-led defense with the Vikings. He could be a perfect fit with a defense hoping to replace Harrison Smith this offseason.
The next Duck off the board came just one pick later, with tight end Kenyon Sadiq being selected No. 19 overall by the Carolina Panthers. He would pair with former top-pick quarterback Bryce Young and become a new big target for the young passer looking to build off his first trip to the playoffs.
Sadiq could be picked in the back half of the first round, but some teams could take a chance on him even earlier. The Kansas City Chiefs have long been rumored to have some interest in Sadiq at No. 9 or No. 29, but a new deal with future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce has made tight end less of a priority. It will be interesting to see if Sadiq can pass Thieneman and become the first Oregon player taken next month.
This projection means the Ducks would have two players taken in the first round in back-to-back drafts. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon joined the Pittsburgh Steelers and offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. went to the Washington Commanders in the back half of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The third Duck selected in Yates' mock draft is guard Emmanuel Pregnon, who is slotted to go No. 55 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers. That would make him an important figure to former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, who desperately needs more help along his offensive line.
The draft will likely not follow this exact formula, but the Ducks should expect to hear all three names picked within the first two rounds, and possibly even more. The Ducks could reasonably expect to see eight or more former players drafted over the course of the three-day draft.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dillon Thieneman picked before Kenyon Sadiq in NFL mock draft