Pair of Oregon Ducks land inside first round of latest ESPN 2026 mock draft
There have been countless NFL teams in recent years who have cracked the method to drafting: selecting players from powerhouses works more often than not. The Oregon Ducks have become one of these teams that pro organizations poach from, having 10 players drafted just this year.
Now considered among college football’s elitists, Oregon constantly replenishes their talent stockpile, so they’ll have a number of stars taken in the 2026 draft as well. ESPN’s Field Yates recently concocted a preseason mock draft for next year, where he has the Ducks having two players selected in the first round.
Yates predicts that the Green Bay Packers will select Matayo Uiagalelei with the No. 19 pick. The five-star edge rusher made a drastic improvement last year compared to his rookie season thanks to more involvement and some impressive development.
“Uiagalelei is hard to miss on tape, thanks to a massive 6-foot-5, 272-pound frame. He aligns from a variety of spots along the defensive front and causes havoc from all of them, with 10.5 sacks in 2024. He wins with power and relentlessness, said Yates.”
One of the most dominant defenders in the nation, Uiagalelei has all the tools to post another dominant season. If he continues developing at the rate he’s going, he could fly even further up draft boards.
The other Duck projected to go in the first round next year is their new offensive tackle, Isaiah World. Yates has the Nevada transfer falling to the Kansas City Chiefs with the 30th overall pick.
The reigning AFC Champions have made a concerted effort over the last few years to keep Patrick Mahomes upright and the massive Oregon tackle would do just that. “He brings premier length at 6-foot-8 and moves very well — especially as a pass protector. World allowed zero sacks last season, but this year will be an elevated test,” said Yates
After Mahomes was mauled in the Super Bowl, patching up their problematics left tackle position with one of the largest men in football history is probably Kansas City’s best bet.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: ESPN 2026 NFL mock draft: Two Oregon Ducks taken in the first round
