With the deadline fast approaching to make a decision of whether or not to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft or return to college, as many as seven potential NFL draftees for the Oregon Ducks opted for the former, coming back to the program for another year of readying themselves for the pros and to make a run at a national title.
Not only have the Ducks quickly fallen from the preseason No. 2 team to unranked, but their draft-eligible players have not had the seasons that were expected from them. Quarterback Dante Moore, potentially being selected No. 2 in the 2026 draft by the quarterback-needy New York Jets, has thrown nine touchdowns to zero interceptions but hasn't looked amazing doing it, along with missing the better part of two games with an injury.
Each of defensive linemen A'Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander and Teitum Tuioti have flashed their excellence but haven't quite consistently played to their potential. Wide receiver Evan Stewart, who entered the year with first-round buzz if he had a big year, has not broke out as many predicted. Transfer safety Koi Perich looks lost in the secondary and may soon be replaced by an underclassmen.
Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei may be the only Duck that has improved his draft stock, as he has five sacks in five games and is back to his dominant self from 2024 after a down season.
All of the draft-eligible Ducks hope to be excelling on Sunday's, joining a handful of pro Ducks doing exactly that year-by-year. Week 5 in the NFL has concluded, with the following former Ducks excelling on the biggest of stages.
S Evan Williams — Green Bay Packers
Evan Williams' breakout season continued on Sunday, as he registered a team-high 12 tackles and a fumble recovery in the Packers' 31-7 victory over the Bears. Williams is now up to 49 tackles in five games, well on his way of eclipsing his career-high of 100 tackles in 2025.
RB Bucky Irving — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The star of Thursday Night Football, Bucky Irving turned 23 touches into 175 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. Operating without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, Irving helped the Buccaneers avoid an 0-5 start, as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 24-16, to achieve their first win.
DL DeForest Buckner — Indianapolis Colts
DeForest Buckner's 11th season is turning into one of his best. On Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buckner had six tackles and a sack, his fourth of the year despite the Colts falling, 34-22.
S Dillon Thieneman — Chicago Bears
Already a linchpin of the Bears defense, Dillon Thieneman had seven tackles and a pair of run stuffs in Chicago's loss to Green Bay. Thieneman is the Bears' leader in tackles with 37, 10 more than any other player.
WR Tez Johnson — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A tremendous deep threat, Tez Johnson caught just one pass on Thursday Night Football against Dallas but turned it into a 64-yard gain. Johnson is up to five catches for 138 yards on the year.
QB Bo Nix — Denver Broncos
The change in play-callers from Davis Webb to Sean Payton didn't improve Bo Nix's play, as he completed 16-of-27 passes for just 123 yards and a touchdown in Denver's 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are 3-2, but Nix has thrown just six touchdown passes and three interceptions in five games.
QB Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers
Talk about disappointing. Justin Herbert was underwhelming once again, going 14-for-24 for 121 yards and a touchdown and interception apiece. He also carried the ball six times for 54 yards but it wasn't enough as the Chargers dropped to 0-5 with a loss to the Broncos. Herbert now has five touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: How Pro Ducks performed in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season
