This Oregon Ducks sleeper has received some major praise from coaches ahead of the NFL Draft.
The Oregon Ducks have become a talent factory over the years, but they actually don't have a ton of top-tier players headed to the NFL Draft this month.
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman look like the only two first-round picks out of Oregon, and guard Emmanuel Pregnon will probably go in Round 2.
Otherwise, any other Ducks players in this year's class will probably come off the board on Day 3, such as cornerback Jadon Canady.
But Canady seems to be drawing some legitimate attention before the draft.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg polled 30 college coaches on potential sleepers with the draft just around the corner, and Canady's name was mentioned.
"Canady played the nickel corner spot for a Ducks defense that ranked fourth nationally in passing yards allowed and eighth in pass efficiency defense. He had three or more passes defended in all four full college seasons he played, and made increasingly more plays on the ball in 2024 and 2025, when he had a hand in three forced turnovers," Rittenberg wrote.
Jadon Canady. Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Because of his lack of size and due to the role he played at Oregon, Canady will almost certainly serve as a slot corner on the NFL level, but nickels are becoming more and more valuable in the modern era.
"The 5-foot-10, 181-pound Canady did not participate in athletic testing at the combine but impressed during Oregon's pro day with his 40 time and on-field drills," Rittenberg added.
Canady registered 39 tackles, a sack, a couple of interceptions and six passes defended for the Ducks this past season.
The 22-year-old began his collegiate career at Tulane in 2021 and spent two years there before transferring to Ole Miss. Canady resided with the Rebels for two seasons before moving on to Oregon for his final NCAA campaign in 2025.
Canady will probably come off the board sometime in the fifth or sixth round, and he'll likely be fighting for a roster spot in training camp.
He might not ever develop into a reliable full-time starter, but based on his motor and his tenacity, Canady could potentially stick as a rotational defensive back on an NFL roster.
We'll see where Canady ends up landing next week.
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