This Oregon Ducks standout is seeing his NFL Draft rise significantly.
There really aren't a ton of Oregon Ducks players expected to fly off the board early on in the 2026 NFL Draft. It's basically tight end Kenyon Sadiq, safety Dillon Thieneman and guard Emmanuel Pregnon.
Otherwise, most other Oregon entrees are expected to fall to Day 3, but there is one Ducks player making a serious, sudden push: linebacker Bryce Boettcher.
Formerly viewed as a Day 3 selection, Boettcher is rising thanks to an impressive showing in the Senior Bowl and at the Scouting Combine.
In fact, Chad Reuter of NFL.com recently tabbed Boettcher as a third-round pick in a four-round mock draft, linking him to the Buffalo Bills at No. 91.
Considering that most previously had Boettcher pegged as someone who would get selected between Rounds 5 and 7, that's a pretty significant jump.
Boettcher was certainly productive at Oregon. He racked up 136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, a couple of forced fumbles and six passes defended during his final season with the Ducks in 2025.
Bryce Boettcher. Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.He was also very good in 2024, finishing with 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and four passes defended.
Boettcher is a bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 233 pounds, which could scare away some NFL teams. He also isn't the most athletic linebacker in the world, which could make it difficult for Boettcher to become a starter on the NFL level.
The Eugene, Or. native was given a 5.98 prospect grade by NFL.com, which means he is projected to be an average backup or a special teamer in the pros.
But perhaps Boettcher is being a bit underrated?
The 23-year-old possesses a tremendous motor and a good nose for the ball, strong qualities that could help him compensate for his lack of physical attributes. Will it be enough for him to move up into Day 2 of the draft, though?
It still seems more likely that Boettcher will end up being a Day 3 selection when it's all said and done. He simply isn't talented enough to establish himself as a clear third-round pick. But maybe he could be a late-round steal.
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