It was yet another successful first round of the NFL draft for the Oregon Ducks in 2026, with a pair of players hearing their names called.
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq went to the New York Jets with the No. 16 overall pick, and safety Dillon Thieneman was selected by the Chicago Bears nine picks later at No. 25. This makes it the second year in a row that the Ducks have sent two players to the NFL in the first round, and the seventh consecutive year that an Oregon player has been drafted among the first 32 picks, dating back to Justin Herbert in 2020.
While the streak didn't start with Dan Lanning, he has done well to continue it and can use it to his advantage on the recruiting trail by selling incoming prospects on the opportunity to compete and be developed at a place that consistently sends players into the NFL.
So, who will be the guy next year? There are a lot of candidates for potential first-round picks, and ultimately, there could easily be more than one. Here are our best bets for current Ducks who could hear their name called in the first round of the 2027 NFL draft.
Had he not returned to Oregon for the 2026 season, there's a high likelihood that Dante Moore would have been a first-round pick in this year's NFL draft, especially considering that Ty Simpson went to the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 13 overall pick. He has the tools to be an NFL quarterback, and with another year of development at Oregon, there is a great chance that Moore ends up as an early first-round pick next year.
A'Mauri Washington is another guy who turned down a first-round draft selection this year in order to return to Eugene for one more season. Many people expected him to declare for the draft this year, considering that he was expected to be among the first 32 names called, but he surprised everyone by returning to Eugene for another year. With a year even similar to what he had in 2025, Washington will undoubtedly be among the top defensive linemen off the board next year.
We know that the talent is there for Evan Stewart, but he has to prove himself this year, his final at the collegiate level. Ever since he came to college as a 5-star prospect, there have been expectations for him to eventually become a first-round pick. Can he live up to those expectations? I could see a world where he goes on to thrive alongside Dante Moore this year and hears his name called on Thursday night in 2027.
Matayo Uiagalelei is a player who, a year ago, we were projecting to be in the first round conversation in the 2026 NFL Draft. He didn't quite have the production we were expecting last season, but he still is an elite player who can continue to develop and find a high ceiling in Oregon's defense. It would come as no surprise to me if Uiagalelei turns into a first-rounder next year.
The Ducks just sent TE Kenyon Sadiq to the New York Jets in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, so could they send another TE to the league in 2027? It seems very likely. Johnson enters the 2026 season as one of the best tight ends in the nation, and with another productive year, he could hear his name called early.
Much like how Jamari Johnson fits the Teitum Tuioti path, Koi Perich almost perfectly fits the Dillon Thieneman path. Thieneman transferred to Oregon for a year after starring at Purdue and grew into a first-round pick for the Chicago Bears. Perich now comes in from Minnesota and could use a season to put his name further on the map and become a first-round pick next year.
Teitum Tuioti ended up having the 2025 season that many expected Matayo Uiagalelei to have, and it could lead to both players going in the first round next year, much like how the Miami Hurricanes sent both Reuben Bain and Akheem Masidor in the first round on Thursday.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Football: Picks to continue 1st-round NFL draft streak in 2027