The Chicago Bears were surprised when Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman fell to the 25th pick in the 1st round of the draft. They felt his talent was to a point where he would go somewhere in the teens. Even as high as #12, depending on what Dallas wanted. They went with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Still, most experts pointed to the Minnesota Vikings at #18 as the obvious landing spot. The organization had just moved on from aging star Harrison Smith. Thieneman felt like an easy choice to replace him.
So you can imagine the shock when Minnesota opted to select Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks instead. While he had his share of fans in the draft community, many questioned whether he should even be a 1st rounder. His talent was obvious, but Banks already had lingering health concerns. It was feared that the team took way too big a risk on a player who might not reach his potential for some time. According to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, some in the Vikings’ building are already questioning the pick.
Passing on Dillon Thieneman already looks like a poor decision.
“After firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January, assistant G.M. Demitrius Washington and senior personnel executive Jamaal Stephenson were among the bigger names the franchise cut loose in June, more than a month after April’s draft. Some of the newer decision-makers now running the organization are questioning that group’s choice of defensive lineman Caleb Banks in the first round…
…When the Vikings selected Banks with the 18th pick of Round 1, it was a surprise to just about everyone in the scouting community. Most of the league thought that, if Banks was going to be a first-round pick, it would be in the final selections, not the middle of the frame. He was never a consistently dominant defender in college, and his conditioning was a concern to some teams- all red flags that made him a marginal round one prospect. By his own admission, Banks did not come to Vikings camp in shape…
…Sources tell me some in the front office believe the prior regime should’ve gone in a different direction with the 18th pick and feel Banks will not offer them the immediate impact needed. They have not been impressed with the lineman, as he’s been inconsistent on the field.”
The Bears didn’t make the same mistake.
By the sound of it, Minnesota was heavily focused on getting some defensive line help in this draft. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores insisted they go after pass rush support. Banks was apparently the best option on the board. This is often one of the traps NFL teams can fall into. They’re so desperate to plug needs that they can sometimes bypass a safer option to check that box. General manager Ryan Poles has stated on more than one occasion that this is a trap he tries hard not to fall into.
Remember, the Bears had serious defensive line concerns of their own. Not to mention left tackle problems. Everybody expected the team to focus on those areas. However, strong runs earlier in the 1st round at both positions left the talent pool thin. Rather than reach for someone not high on their board, they opted for the best player. That was Dillon Thieneman. Not only was he one of the best athletes in the entire class, but he also satisfied one of their key needs on defense.
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Time will tell how good Thieneman is.
Will he be a star? Most likely not. Finding those types late in the 1st round is difficult. However, early signs at least indicate that Thieneman will be a solid starter. If his work ethic and talent mesh as many expect, he should be a core member of this defense moving forward. The fact that Minnesota is already having misgivings about Banks is a really bad sign. Let’s not forget that this team has been having serious trouble with their 1st-round picks lately. Lewis Cine was a bust. J.J. McCarthy already looks like a bust. Donovan Jackson underwhelmed at guard last season.
You can’t keep missing in the 1st round like this every year and expect there not to be consequences. So far, good coaching has masked the problem to a degree. However, there are limits. The Vikings finished last in the division last year for a reason. Their roster is great in some spots, but it’s weak in others. No doubt they’re hoping Kyler Murray can help with the biggest problem at quarterback. If Banks is as bad as they fear, fans may riot. Especially if Thieneman ends up being good.
