Patriots Eye Dillon Thieneman for Draft

0:00It's April 20th, this is NFL News Today, driven by AI following the league in real time. The New England Patriots sit at Pick 31 in the NFL Draft, eyeing limited first round gyms, but ready to trade up for the right one, like Oregon, safety Dylan Thiniman. This 22-year-old junior clocks a blazing 4.3540 yard dash, stands 6-foot tall, weighs 201 pounds, and boasts a 41-inch vertical. He's projected as a first-rounder around 18 overall, with elite athletic scores and a resume packed with 306 tackles, 8 picks, and special teams grit. The Inamin burst onto the scene as a true freshman at Purdue in 2023, earning Big Ten freshman of the year with stand-out tackles and interceptions despite a rough team record. After Purdue fired their coach, he transferred to Oregon, where he snagged first team all Big Ten honors in just one season with 96 tackles, and two picks, starting every game across

1:0039 college outings. Fans and scouts rave about his range, instincts, and closing speed that make him a lockdown single-high safety, plus his willingness to mix it up near. The line as a stout tackler, he's versatile across man or zone, slot or deep, and log snaps on five special teams units. That said, his smaller frame can get him boxed out by bigger tight ends, and he sometimes takes iffy pursuit angles. For the pats, he'd slide in as a third safety, behind Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson, shining in nickel packages early while contributing on returns and blocks. His scheme flexibility fits their versatile defense perfectly, and with room to refine technique, he could replace Byard down the line as a multi-year starter. The Tiananmen slips into the high 20s, he'd be a steal for New England's back end, blending speed, smarts, and leadership into their draft plans, seamlessly.