The 2025 edition of the NFL Draft has concluded, with a program record ten Oregon Ducks being selected. Derrick Harmon (round 1, pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers), Jordan Burch (round 3, pick 14, Arizona Cardinals) and Jamaree Caldwell (round 3, pick 22, Los Angeles Chargers) made it the fourth draft in a row that an Oregon defensive lineman has been selected.
Under Dan Lanning, the defensive line in particular has been one of the best recruited positions, and it appears that the streak of defensive linemen will continue in next year's draft.
With another talented batch of draft eligible Ducks set to take the field in 2025, several could find their way into first round conversations. Here's a WAY too early look at next year.
Matayo Uiagalelei - Edge Rusher
A former five-star recruit (Rivals), Uiagalelei got some early burn as a true freshman in 2023, and broke out in a big way in 2024.
Uiagalelei was the Big Ten regular season sack leader in 2024, with 10.5, and a first team all-Big Ten selection by the media as a true sophomore. Tosh Lupoi, Chris Hampton and Dan Lanning have been able to utilize Matayo in a variety of ways, and used him creatively in simulated pressure situations as well.
Dominant in the run game, consistently setting a strong edge for linebackers to clean up, and a rare level of physicality highlight a skillset that reaches beyond just pass rushing. As surprising as this may seem based on the numbers, Uiagalelei did struggle in some pass rush situations, but will only need minor tweaks to really solidify himself as a high-end first rounder.
At just nineteen years old, Uiagalelei's frame is already NFL ready, at 6 feet 5 inches and close to 300 pounds. The physical growth combined with the development and preparation by the coaching staff will have Uiagalelei in a good position going into next April.
If Uiagalelei can match or exceed his 2024 production with more attention being paid to him, he should be a sure thing in the first round of the 2025 draft. Uiagalelei is a junior, and could return for one more season after 2025 if he chooses to forego the draft.
Isaiah World - Offensive Tackle
Nevada transfer Isaiah World is everything that the NFL looks for in a left tackle. He is maybe the most appropriately named player in college football, standing at 6 feet 8 inches and over 300 pounds. Ranked as a four or five star depending on the scouting service, World is set to be a star, and fill in perfectly for Commanders first round selection Josh Conerly.
His punch is powerful and consistent, with more than capable footwork and speed, especially considering his size. Coming into Oregon with that skillset, he will only improve under the excellent development and production displayed by offensive line coach A'lique Terry.
Considering his size and skillset, Isaiah has all the potential in the World to be a great NFL product and enter the first round in the 2025 NFL draft.
Evan Stewart - Wide Receiver
Evan Stewart was a very solid addition for the Ducks in 2024, and he is set to take on "WR1" responsibilities in 2025. His potential to get into first round conversations counts on a few improvements, however.
Stewart was ridiculously good for the Ducks in 2024 -- on a very inconsistent basis. As mentioned on Autzen Zoo previously, 449 of Evan Stewart's 613 yards came in four games. He was arguably the best player in the win over Ohio State in the regular season, with over 150 yards and two touchdowns, but did not catch a pass in the Big Ten championship against Penn State.
Stewart may not need "paper popper" stats in 2025 to be a high draft pick. His talent and potential is undeniable, and at receiver, sometimes that is good enough for a NFL team to take a chance. However, with Traeshon Holden and Tez Johnson gone, he is expected to receive a larger volume.
Kenyon Sadiq - Tight End
Kenyon Sadiq is a freak of nature. His lack of volume due to being behind Terrance Ferguson may be the only factor keeping him away from the top of this list. His skillset is different than almost every tight end we've seen in the draft. Even other freak athletes and ridiculous talents like Brock Bower's weren't getting end arounds and fly sweeps like we see from Sadiq.
This athleticism has beenn put on display numerous times, notably in the Big Ten championship against Penn State, when he hurdled defensive back Jalen Kimber on the run, en route to the game's opening touchdown. Sadiq also has impressive blocking ability put on tape, dominating edge rushers and linebackers consistently. Because of these abilities, Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein thinks he "is one of the best players in the country."
NFL teams are spreading out tight ends into the slot, and utilizing 12 personnel more comfortably in the pass game. Sadiq could very well end up as a first round selection, (hypothetically) making him the first tight end selected in the first round for Oregon since Russ Francis was selected to the Patriots in 1975.
There are a couple Ducks who have first round talent, but their positional value is holding them back. Dillon Thieneman and Iapani Laloulu are two of the best players on the team, but external factors could keep them out of the first round. Sadiq will be a junior this season, so he does not have to enter the draft following the 2025 season.
Dillon Thieneman - Safety
The Purdue transfer and 2023 Big Ten freshman of the year has already established himself as one of the leaders of the young Oregon defense, and has proven his talent through two years at Purdue.
In two seasons at Purdue, he put up over 200 tackles, also recording six interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles. Thieneman is widely considered to be at the very, very least, a top five safety in the nation entering 2025.
As far as NFL draft stock goes, safety does not hold a lot of positional value, as proven by just one safety going in the 2025 draft, Malaki Starks from Georgia, and in the past few drafts, finding a first round safety is very rare. Also, potentially being in the same draft as Caleb Downs will not do Thieneman any favors. He is a junior in 2025, meaning he could return to Oregon for a fourth and final season of college ball.
Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu - Center
Poncho is considered to be one of the best returning interior offensive linemen according to PFF. He was featured as a depth piece in jumbo packages in 2023, and was the starting center in 2024.
Having to follow the sensational season that Jackson Powers-Johnson displayed in 2023 could not have been an easy task. But for a true sophomore, Laloulu did it about as good, or better as Duck fans expected.
Center is as mentally tough as it is physically, having to communicate checks and identifications to the rest of the offensive line, and oftentimes taking on the biggest and baddest offensive linemen the opponent has to offer. Poncho handled these duties incredibly well.
Being a center, Laloulu could also fall victim to the positional value issue that Thieneman is up against, unless a team really likes what he has to offer and uses him at guard, rather than his true position. Being a junior in 2025, Poncho could return for his senior season at Oregon, if he chooses to.