Oregon Tight End Jamari Johnson Forgoes 2026 NFL Draft

Johnson believes he has more to prove in college before taking the leap to the pros.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:24am by

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a tight end in motion, with overlapping planes of deep blue, forest green, and burnt orange, conveying the technical aspects of the position that Johnson seeks to improve.Jamari Johnson's decision to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Oregon for another season reflects the Ducks' strong tight end pipeline and his commitment to refining his game.Eugene Today

Oregon Ducks tight end Jamari Johnson had the opportunity to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, but decided to return to Eugene for another year of college football. Johnson believes he has more to improve on, including his footwork, hand placement, blocking in the run game, and route details, before making the jump to the professional level.

Why it matters

Johnson's decision to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Oregon for another season is notable, as the Ducks have produced several high-profile tight end prospects in recent years, including Kenyon Sadiq and Terrance Ferguson. Johnson's choice to continue developing his skills in college could position him well for the 2027 draft.

The details

Johnson began his college career at Louisville in 2023 before transferring to Oregon in 2025. In his first season with the Ducks, he had 32 receptions for 510 yards and 3 touchdowns, earning an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten team. Johnson believes he still has work to do on the technical aspects of his game, such as footwork, hand placement, blocking, and route running, before making the jump to the NFL.

  • Johnson redshirted in 2023 at Louisville.
  • In 2024, Johnson had 13 receptions for 158 yards and 1 touchdown at Louisville.
  • Johnson transferred to Oregon in 2025 and had 32 receptions for 510 yards and 3 touchdowns.
  • Johnson has decided to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Oregon for the 2026 season.

The players

Jamari Johnson

A 6-5, 257 pound tight end for the Oregon Ducks who began his college career at Louisville in 2023 before transferring to Oregon in 2025. Johnson had 32 receptions for 510 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first season with the Ducks in 2025.

Kenyon Sadiq

A former Oregon Ducks tight end who is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sadiq had 51 receptions for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2025, earning Big Ten Tight End of the Year and Second-team All-American honors.

Terrance Ferguson

A former Oregon Ducks tight end who was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. As a rookie, Ferguson had 11 receptions for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like I haven't really done anything in college football. That was one of the reasons. I have a lot of stuff to work on that's within footwork and hand placement, block in the run game, and route details. Getting to the right depth and just touching up everything I can so when I get to the NFL, there's none of those problems.”

— Jamari Johnson, Oregon Ducks Tight End

What’s next

Johnson will look to build on his strong 2025 season and continue developing the technical aspects of his game during the 2026 season at Oregon. His performance could position him well for the 2027 NFL Draft, where he is currently projected as a late first-round pick.

The takeaway

Johnson's decision to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to Oregon for another year of college football shows his commitment to improving his game and positioning himself for long-term success at the professional level. His choice also highlights the strength of the Ducks' tight end pipeline, which has produced several high-profile prospects in recent years.