Oregon’s 2026 roster is already drawing the kind of preseason buzz that turns heads, and Pro Football Focus just backed up the hype in a big way.
PFF released its top 50 players in the nation for the upcoming season, and six Ducks made the list. That kind of representation tells you plenty about where Oregon stands entering 2026: loaded, experienced, and packed with players who already have national respect.
At the top of the Oregon group is quarterback Dante Moore at No. 7.
Moore is back for what is expected to be his final season in Eugene after a redshirt sophomore year that put him firmly in the national spotlight. He ranked sixth among FBS quarterbacks in PFF passing grade at 90.2, tied for the FBS lead with 30 big-time throws, and posted the nation’s best PFF passing grade on deep throws at 98.5.
He also guided the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals, and his return after being projected as a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft only sharpens the spotlight on Oregon’s season.
The Ducks also landed major recognition in the trenches. A'Mauri Washington came in at No. 23 after choosing to return for one more run in Eugene rather than head to the draft.
Washington broke out as a junior, ranking third among Power Four interior defenders in PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. His 80.0 PFF grade placed 10th among Power Four interior defenders, his 83.8 run-defense grade ranked ninth, and he led all FBS defensive tackles with eight batted passes at the line of scrimmage.
At 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, he also reached more than 17 m.p.h., according to PFF’s player tracking data.
Oregon’s edge rushers showed up next. Teitum Tuioti checked in at No. 32 after becoming one of the Ducks’ most reliable defensive playmakers.
He led Oregon with 11 sacks and finished second on the team with 38 pressures. PFF noted that he was one of just two Big Ten edge defenders to earn 80.0-plus grades in both pass rushing and run defense, and his 58 run stops over the past two seasons rank first among all FBS defensive linemen.
Right behind him at No. 33 was Matayo Uiagalelei, who continues to build on the promise that came with his 5-star arrival. He posted an 82.2 PFF grade in 2025, good for sixth among qualified Big Ten edge defenders, and his 52 pressures led Oregon while ranking second in the Big Ten. He remains a force against the run and can slide inside over offensive tackles when needed.
The Ducks’ secondary also got a nod with Brandon Finney Jr. at No. 39.
The true freshman stepped into the CB1 role immediately in 2025 and handled it like a veteran. His 42.3 passer rating allowed was the lowest among qualified Big Ten outside cornerbacks, and he missed just four tackles all season while picking off three passes.
Two of those interceptions came in his standout playoff game against Texas Tech.
Rounding out Oregon’s group is tight end Jamari Johnson at No. 50.
With Kenyon Sadiq off to the NFL after being the top tight end in the draft, Johnson steps into a big role with serious expectations. He finished 2025 ranked seventh among qualified tight ends in receiving grade at 85.2, and his 510 receiving yards were the 16th-most in the nation at the position.
Oregon may have lost a first-round tight end, but Johnson gives the Ducks another dangerous weapon in an offense that should stay elite.
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Teitum Tuioti Just Became Central To Oregons 2026 Title Hopes
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At the center of that group is senior EDGE Teitum Tuioti, whose decision to return gives the Ducks a proven playmaker and a steady presence up front. He comes into the season with strong draft buzz and top-tier preseason recognition, but for Oregon the bigger story is simpler: a defense that was good enough to carry a deep run now has a chance to be even better, and Tuioti is a big reason why. [Read more 🡒]