The Oregon Ducks are already drawing NFL attention before they’ve even kicked off their season, and a fresh mock draft has three of their names going in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.
That’s the kind of buzz that follows a program with returning talent on both sides of the ball, and Oregon will get its first chance to show it on Sep. 5 against Boise State. The Ducks are favored in that opener, but the bigger picture is what’s building around the roster if this preseason projection is any indication.
SI’s Gilberto Manzano released his first mock draft ahead of the season, and the Ducks are well represented near the top. The first Oregon player off the board is quarterback Dante Moore, who lands inside the first three picks.
That’s hardly a surprise. Moore is viewed as the Oregon prospect with the most upside, and quarterbacks tend to come off the board early.
In Manzano’s mock, Moore trails Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who is projected to go to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Dolphins are the team tied to Moore in the projection, and their current quarterback situation helps explain why. Malik Willis is described as a player with upside, but one who still hasn’t proven himself because of his limited starting experience. For Miami to pass on a quarterback, Willis would likely have to deliver a huge season.
Oregon’s next first-round name is defensive lineman A'Mauri Washington, who comes off the board before pick 20 to the Baltimore Ravens. In most drafts, that would be a stretch for a defensive lineman.
Washington, though, is presented as the exception. His ability to control gaps and hold up against double-teams stands out, and while stopping the run is his biggest calling card, he’s also steady enough to be an average pass rusher.
For a team like the Ravens, he’s the kind of player who could step right into the lineup as a rookie.
Then there’s tight end Jamari Johnson, another Oregon player who finds his way into the first round. Manzano has him going No. 19 to the New England Patriots. The Ducks have developed a reputation for sending pro-ready tight ends into the league, and last season that showed up when Kenyon Sadiq was taken by the New York Jets in the first round.
Johnson’s fit with New England is laid out as a strong one. The Patriots already have weapons, including receiver AJ Brown, and Johnson would give them another vertical target while also bringing useful blocking value. It’s the kind of addition that looks tailor-made for the offense.
The final Oregon name in the mock is defensive standout Teitum Tuioti, who goes No. 20 to the Minnesota Vikings. Tuioti is described as having one of the most feared presences on defense, and his production backs that up. He finished last season with 9.5 sacks and handled top offensive tackles well throughout the year.
Landing at No. 20 might even undersell him. The mock notes that Tuioti could be a top-10-caliber player if he repeats that 2026 form. For now, though, the early projection gives Oregon another reason to enter the season with plenty of NFL-level buzz already attached to the roster.
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