The NFL is still amid its preseason and college football’s regular season is days from beginning, but it’s always draft prognostication season.
ESPN’s Field Yates released his first 2026 mock draft and two Oregon Ducks are projected to go in the first round.
Yates projects outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei to the Green Bay Packers at No. 19 and left tackle Isaiah World to Kansas City at No. 30.
The Big Ten’s leading returning edge rusher, Uiagalelei had 38 tackles (12 1/2 for loss) with 10 1/2 sacks last season. Yates notes how the junior can cause havoc at multiple spots and that the Packers, which tied for eighth in the NFL in sacks last season, could use more help. Several of Green Bay’s edge defenders are entering the final year of their contracts.
World was widely regarded as the top offensive lineman available in the transfer portal this offseason. Yates credits World with no sacks allowed last season at Nevada, though Pro Football Focus attributed one sack to the 6-foot-8 senior. Regardless, he’s one of seven offensive tackles Yates projects to be selected in the first round in April.
Should Yates’ projections prove prophetic, it would mark just the fifth time Oregon produced multiple first round picks and the first time it ever did so in back-to-back seasons.
Oregon (0-0) vs. Montana State (0-0)
- When: Saturday, Aug. 30
- Time: 1 p.m. PT
- Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene
- TV channel: Big Ten Network
- Stream: DirecTV (free trial) or Fubo (promotional offers). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
- Oregon football 2025 season schedule, scores
— James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten.
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