The Oregon Ducks had seven players from the 2025 roster selected in the 2026 NFL draft, plus three players who singed UDFA contracts to make it to a professional training camp. It’s never possible to know which players will prosper when transitioning to the next level, but it’s always a pleasure for Oregon fans when former Ducks can forge careers beyond their collegiate eligibility.
Below I list (in draft order, followed alphabetically by team for UDFAs) all the players who have left Eugene and will
be looking to make an NFL roster this off season. I also provide with a brief primer on where they look to fit with their new team.
TE Kenyon Sadiq – NY Jets, 1st round, #16 overall
Sadiq was a match up nightmare in college and will likely remain so at the next level. He’s on the smaller side for a professional tight end but still has the mass to play in-line. There is a possibility he becomes the Jets’ favorite pass catching tight end as a rookie, though he’s still likely to split time with Mason Taylor (2025, LSU). He’ll need to continue to work on blocking, route running, and consistency with his hands to reach his potential. If the Jets’ staff are clever, they should be able to line him up at multiple positions to give him favorable match ups. The biggest concern in the short term is talent around him; the Jets went 3-14 last season and look to start veteran journeyman Geno Smith at quarterback in 2026.
S Dillon Thieneman – CHI Bears, 1st round, #25 overall
Much like Sadiq, Thieneman displayed high level athletic ability (first at Purdue, then Oregon) but still has room to grow as a player. In college both hythloday and I found him to be capable of spectacular plays from the safety position, but he was also inconsistent in zone coverage and taking proper tackling angles. He did improve with experience during his year in Eugene and as a first round pick will probably start as a rookie so he’ll get plenty of reps. He’s big enough to play in the box while also being fast enough to play deep. As a rookie my guess is he’ll be best in run support and man coverage, so he should be deployed closer to the line of scrimmage as often as possible.
G Emmanuel Pregnon – JAX Jaguars, 3rd round, #88 overall
College production doesn’t always directly translate to professional success, and being an Oregon film reviewer it’s important to note I am a biased observer. That said I think the Jags got a steal in the third round. Interior linemen usually go later in the draft, and though Pregnon’s measurables don’t show any concerns he wouldn’t be considered a “workout wonder” compared to his peers, hence his late day 2 availability. He’s highly experienced having started at Wyoming, USC, and Oregon and was the best graded offensive lineman on my tally sheet in 2025. Jacksonville doesn’t have a glaring hole in their offensive line so he may start as a reserve, but he’s in a very good spot to work toward a second contract several years down the line.
S Jadon Canady – KC Cheifs, 4th round, #106 overall
After having to recover from a catastrophic injury while at Tulane and play himself back into shape at Ole Miss, Canady earned an early day 3 selection by locking down the starting nickel/STAR safety role for the Ducks in 2025. Nickel is the standard package for NFL defenses just as it is in the NCAA, so I assume the Chiefs brought Canady in to compete for time at that same spot. There are currently nine corners listed on Kansas City’s roster, though I’m not familiar enough with the team to say which can slide inside and be effective. Canady played at nickel, corner, and safety in college so his versatility may give him an edge on cut down day.
LB Bryce Boettcher – IND Colts, 4th round, #135 overall
Boettcher originally came to Eugene on a baseball scholarship and was selected in the MLB draft after the 2024 season. He made a calculated risk to come back for one more season of football and it paid off. The coverage responsibilities for linebackers in Oregon’s defense make Boettcher a natural choice for SAM in a 4-3 lined up to the passing strength of the formation. It’s always advisable for day 3 picks to find a role on special teams to maximize their chances of making a roster, and Boettcher has the body type to be useful in kick coverage.
WR Malik Benson – LV Raiders, 6th round, #195 overall
As the old saying goes: “Cometh the hour, cometh the man.” Benson had come from poorly managed teams at Alabama (during Saban’s swan song) and Florida State before becoming a Duck. He began the year third on Oregon’s depth chart, but by halfway through the season injuries had made him the number one and he excelled when called upon. His measurables show no weaknesses, though he is perhaps just a touch on the short side at 6’ 1”. His film at Oregon showed he has true #1 ability and if he had more usable tape over his career I suspect he would have been off the board sooner. As a biased observer I find Pregnon more of a sure thing to stick on a roster but Benson could out-play his draft position more than any other Duck selected this year. He also benefits from experience returning kicks.
G Alex Harkey – LA Chargers 6th round, #206 overall
Harkey started at right tackle for Texas State before stepping into the same role at Oregon in 2025. He’s a good run blocker who was serviceable at tackle in the Sun Belt but struggled with the pass rushers he saw against top level college competition. As such he was drafted as a guard by Jim Harbaugh’s staff in Los Angeles. He has a nasty streak that I’m sure coaches love… most of the time… but needs to work on switching it off at the whistle. It wouldn’t surprise me if he sticks around, but if he makes it on a roster I think it most likely he ends up on a practice squad somewhere in his rookie year.
LS Luke Basso – DEN Broncos, UDFA
The fact that I didn’t recognize (nor did you, be honest) Basso’s name when I read the list of UDFA’s signed from Oregon this year means he was great at his job. Fans never think about the long snapper position but coaches dread any scenario where they don’t have one they can rely on. The Broncos have a 5 year veteran already on the roster so they may be looking at Basso mostly as a camp body. Even if he cannot beat out the incumbent in Denver, NFL teams always keep tabs on specialists in case of sudden need during the season.
RB Noah Whittington – HOU Texans, UDFA
When healthy Whittington was a quality running back for Oregon over three seasons after beginning his career at Western Kentucky. He’s never been the biggest at the position, nor the fastest once in the open field. He excelled as a single-cut style runner using his vision and acceleration to make plays. He’s also an able receiver out of the backfield and has returned kicks. It’s a challenge for undrafted players to stick on rosters, but the running back position is one where the early round bias is less pronounced than at others. To stick around in the league Whittington will need to carve out a role as a third down back and special teams stalwart.
OT Isaiah World – LA Chargers, UDFA
World in an extremely intriguing position with true boom-or-bust potential. Before 2025 some draftniks were predicting he could be a first round pick at left tackle. He does have highly desirable mobility for the position, with a kick-step that allows him to counter speed and choose the angle of engagement. Unfortunately he spent the first four years of his college career at a Nevada program that struggles with strength and conditioning. His lack of development showed in 2025 as his film was mixed at best against upper level FBS competition. Worse, it turns out he suffered a torn ligament in his knee in the Peach Bowl against Indiana, hence why he left the game at halftime. All this led him to falling out of the draft completely. If the Chargers have the patience to allow him to rehab and spend a year or two on the practice squad with a professional strength and conditioning staff he has the potential to work his way to starting at left tackle. Should his injury and physical development hold him back there is little risk to the team as they didn’t have to spend any draft capital to acquire him.
