Friday the Los Angeles Rams picked Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round, the 46th player taken and the first Oregon tight end drafted since David Paulson in 2012, who went 240th in the seventh round to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His name is David Paulson and he was a wonderful Duck, but Paulson was nearly Mr. Irrelevant that year in the draft. Chandler Harnish went to the Colts at 253. Paulson logged three years in the league, caught 13 passes for 153 yards in stints with the Steelers and Chargers.
Francis is as yet the only Oregon TE to grace the first round. Ferguson at second round, 46th comes second, the Webfoots' career leader in receptions (134) and touchdowns (16) among tight ends.
In draft order Ed Dickson earned a third round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in 2010, slightly behind Huck Finn doppelganger T-Ferg, if Huck Finn were 6-5, 256. Dickson went No. 70. He's the Ducks career leader in yards among the tight ends with 1557, edging out Ferguson by the length of two first downs.
Justin Peelle achieved a nice career as a pro, drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 4th round (103rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, 10 years in the league, good for 123 grabs, 1003 yards and 12 TDs. The Dublin High grad (Dublin, Calif.) has since coached in the league for 13 seasons and won a Super Bowl ring on the staff of the Eagles in 2018.
Yep, Like the Terrance Ferguson pick pic.twitter.com/fIdCGK9hJG
— CJL (@ChiefJusticeLex) April 26, 2025
Ubiquitous podcast host and charismatic Oregon gadfly George Wrighster achieved the next-highest Oregon draft status, taken in the fourth round by Jacksonville in 2003, 104th overall. Thank you for playing, although there are no lovely parting gifts in the NFL.
Shedeur Sanders. Let’s Keep it real! https://t.co/T4OlnUrJpy
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) April 26, 2025
In a career shortened by injuries Wrighster put in seven years in the league, winning a UFL Championship in 2010 with Las Vegas Locomotives. He pulled in 94 career passes for the Jaguars, for 850 yards and 9 TDs.
A catalog of those who also served:
Oregon TE Jacob Breeland picked up as undrafted free agent
Colt Lyerla went undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers on May 19, 2014, as an undrafted free agent.
Blake Spence selected in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL draft. Blake Spence.
Josh Wilcox undrafted in 1997,
Minnesota Vikings (1997)
New Orleans Saints (1998)
Amsterdam Admirals (1998)
Portland Forest Dragons (1998)
New Orleans Saints (1999)
Los Angeles Xtreme (2001)
Tim Day
*went pro in something other than sports:
Global Vice President Mens NSW Footwear at Nike
Pharaoh Brown UDFA in 2017, 9 years in the NFL
Willy Tate, Undrafted, 5 years in the NFL