Three Oregon Ducks Projected as 2027 NFL Draft First-Round Picks

Quarterback Dante Moore, edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, and defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington are expected to be selected early in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 12:56am

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The Oregon Ducks are poised to have another successful NFL Draft in 2027, with three players projected to be first-round picks: quarterback Dante Moore, edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, and defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington. All three players elected to return to Eugene for the 2026 season, forgoing the 2026 NFL Draft, to further develop their skills and compete for a national championship.

Why it matters

The Ducks have consistently produced top NFL talent in recent years, and this trio of projected first-rounders could help cement Oregon's reputation as a premier pipeline for professional football. Their decisions to stay in school for another year also demonstrate the program's ability to retain elite-level talent.

The details

Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2025, and was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before opting to return to Oregon. Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei recorded 10.5 sacks in 2024 and 6 sacks in 2025, establishing himself as a dominant force on the Ducks' defensive line. Defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington was projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in 2026, and will look to improve his draft stock with another strong season in 2026.

  • Dante Moore elected to return to Oregon for the 2026 season, passing up the 2026 NFL Draft.
  • Matayo Uiagalelei and A'Mauri Washington both elected to return to Oregon for the 2026 season, forgoing the 2026 NFL Draft.

The players

Dante Moore

Oregon's starting quarterback, who was projected to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before deciding to return to school for the 2026 season.

Matayo Uiagalelei

Oregon's standout edge rusher, who recorded 10.5 sacks in 2024 and 6 sacks in 2025.

A'Mauri Washington

Oregon's starting defensive tackle, who was projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before returning to school.

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The takeaway

The decisions by Moore, Uiagalelei, and Washington to return to Oregon for the 2026 season demonstrate the program's ability to retain elite talent and continue producing first-round NFL Draft picks. Their projected selections in the 2027 NFL Draft could help cement Oregon's reputation as a premier pipeline for professional football.