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Oregon Football: Top 8 early prospects for 2022 NFL Draft

By Connor Muldowney

EUGENE, OREGON - NOVEMBER 07: CJ Verdell #7 of the Oregon Ducks against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - NOVEMBER 07: CJ Verdell #7 of the Oregon Ducks against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Oct 11, 2019; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Verone McKinley II intercepts a pass against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2019; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Verone McKinley II intercepts a pass against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

Oregon’s 2021 NFL Draft class paved the way for guys like Verone McKinley. Although he’s talented enough to be drafted already, scouts and teams are going to pay far more attention to Eugene moving forward after the Ducks sent four guys from the defensive backfield to the NFL draft. That’ll get everyone’s attention.

Thomas Graham, Jevon Holland, Deommodore Lenoir, and Brady Breeze were all selected into the 2021 NFL Draft and now McKinley could be next up in 2022.

McKinley started his Oregon career as a cornerback in 2019, playing in 13 games as a redshirt freshman and recording 46 tackles, four interceptions, and two pass breakups. He was named to the FWAA’s Freshman All-American team and caught everyone’s eye. As a sophomore in 2020, he had 46 tackles again with a pick and two pass deflections.

The junior safety has to be on scouts’ watch lists this season as the defensive back is aggressive and can be a ballhawk as well.

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