Oregon Ducks' Most Fascinating NFL Prospect is Not Who You Think

With Dante Moore returning to school for another year, all eyes will be on the Oregon Ducks quarterback in 2026, especially considering he probably could have been the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft this spring.

But Moore is not Oregon's most intriguing NFL prospect. Neither are tight end Kenyon Sadiq or defensive back Dillon Thieneman, both of whom declared for the draft this year. Defensive lineman A'Mauri Washington — who elected to spend another season with the Ducks — isn't the answer, either.

No; the most compelling professional talent currently on Oregon's roster is edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, who has opted to return to Eugene for one more year in spite of the fact that he could have been a Day 2 pick in April.

Uiagalelei is one of the more unique pass rushers in the country, possessing the ability to both stand up and play with his hand in the dirt. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 270 pounds, so he has the size of a defensive end. But he has the athleticism of a linebacker.

This past year, Uiagalelei registered 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, a couple of forced fumbles and four passes defended. That followed a 2024 campaign in which he racked up 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles.

There is no question the 20-year-old would have drawn significant interest had he entered the draft this year, but now that he made his decision to play at Oregon in 2026, he could ultimately vault himself into the first round next spring.

And he could potentially end up being a high first-rounder, as well.

Uiagalelei is a joy to watch. He has terrific burst off the line and he is strong enough to overpower defenders. Given his frame, he shouldn't have any issues in that capacity on the NFL level, either.

Now, it should be noted that Uiagalelei is still very raw, relying more on his natural physical tools rather than refined skill at this point. So perhaps it's a positive that he opted to head back to school for one more season.

But the Bellflower, Ca. native already excels as a tremendous run defender, and he even has the size and strength to play on the interior at times. He's similar to Miami's Rueben Bain in that regard.

I for one am definitely looking forward to watching Uiagalelei next season and monitoring his progress. He absolutely has the chance to develop into a potential top-10 pick in 2027.

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