Oregon has bigger problems in front of it than draft buzz right now, but the NFL picture is starting to take shape for a few of the Ducks anyway.
With a road game at Illinois looming and the College Football Playoff path getting thinner after two losses, Oregon is trying to keep one eye on the season at hand. At the same time, several of its top players are making themselves known in ESPN analyst Jordan Reid’s latest top 50 for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Three Ducks landed inside Reid’s top 40: tight end Jamari Johnson at No. 23, quarterback Dante Moore at No. 37 and defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington at No. 40. Reid also broke out positional rankings, and Oregon showed up there too with center Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu at No. 3 among centers.
Johnson sits highest among the Oregon group and also checked in as Reid’s top tight end. The 6-5, 255-pound tight end has 17 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns through Oct. 17.
Moore’s spot is more complicated. He returned to Oregon for the 2026 season instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft, but his year took a hit when he suffered a concussion in the Ducks’ road game at USC.
He has not played since. Before the injury, Moore had completed 69 of 99 passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Washington landed at No. 40 overall and was rated fourth among defensive tackles in Reid’s positional rankings. The 6-3, 325-pound defender has piled up 20 tackles, a half tackle for loss and five passes defensed through Oct. 17.
Laloulu’s rise in the center rankings comes with strong numbers in protection. Through his first 388 offensive snaps at center, he has earned an 85.0 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus and has not given up a sack, hit or pressure.
Moore’s draft stock, though, is the one with the most uncertainty attached. At this point last year, he was building momentum as one of college football’s top quarterbacks and a possible high pick.
Now, after missing multiple games, he has slipped outside Reid’s top five quarterbacks. Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Missouri’s Austin Simmons were all listed ahead of him.
He is set to miss his third straight game Saturday against Illinois, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning has not given a timetable for his return. Moore’s arm talent and earlier production still matter, but so does everything that comes after the injury - how quickly he gets back into rhythm, how sharp he looks once he returns and whether he can finish the season with a strong run.
In Other News...
Illinois Big Win Comes With One Debate Fans Wont Drop
The Ducks left Champaign with plenty to sort through after a 21-10 loss to Illinois, a game that turned on an offense that could not finish drives. Oregon kept coming away with field goals instead of touchdowns and never found enough answers to keep pace, while Illinois made the most of its chances and controlled the closing stages. For a team that expected to leave with a statement win, the frustration was as much about missed opportunities as the final score.
The debate that will linger comes from the late fourth quarter, when Illinois receiver Collin Dixons game-sealing touchdown was reviewed and upheld despite contact from Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. Oregon will point to that sequence, but the broader issue was its own inability to cash in when the game was there to be taken. The Ducks had chances to change the shape of the afternoon and instead watched Illinois turn a tight finish into a result they could not undo. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Took A Painful QB Recruiting Hit
Oregon took a significant recruiting swing to the jaw when Josiah Boyd, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class, chose UCLA over the Ducks and Kentucky. Boyd, ranked 31st nationally and second at his position, had long looked like a major target for Oregon, which was seen as a frontrunner for much of the process before the Bruins surged late.
The miss stings because quarterback recruiting is always about more than one player, and Oregon had clearly invested time and momentum in Boyds chase. The Ducks are still active with other 2028 quarterback options, and they already have a highly regarded quarterback committed in the 2027 class, but landing a player of Boyds caliber would have been a meaningful early win in the next cycle. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Lost A Key QB Battle With Bigger Recruiting Questions Ahead
Oregons quarterback board took a hit this week when four-star Josiah Boyd, the No. 2 quarterback in the 2028 class, announced for UCLA over the Ducks and Kentucky. Boyd had visited all three programs, and Oregon had long been viewed as a strong contender, but his choice swung late after recent trips, including a stop to see a Bruins game.
The loss leaves Oregon still working through the 2028 quarterback market while also trying to hold onto its current commitments. It is another reminder that UCLAs recruiting profile has picked up steam, and for the Ducks, the bigger concern now is whether this one decision is a one-off or the start of a tougher stretch on the trail. [Read more 🡒]