How Oregon's record-breaking 10 draft picks fit with their new NFL teams

A testament to the brand power that Dan Lanning has created in just three short years as head coach, Oregon set a record last weekend as 10 Ducks were among the 257 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. That figure broke last year's record of eight.

"The proof is in the pudding," Lanning said when the total reached 10 just after Saturday's Spring Game.

After leading Oregon to a Big Ten championship this past season, these Ducks will now take on a new challenge as they try to find their place among the best football players in the world.

Let's take a look at where each Duck landed in this past weekend's draft and break down how they will fit onto their new teams.

Derrick Harmon - Defensive Line, Pittsburgh Steelers (Rd. 1, Pick 21)

Although many thought Pittsburgh might have been the team to take Shedeur Sanders off the board, the Steelers opted rather to make Derrick Harmon the first Duck selected in this year's draft, filling a need on the interior of their defensive line. Harmon blossomed into a dominant force at Oregon after three seasons at Michigan State, leading all interior defenders with 55 pressures. For the Steelers, Harmon will provide an immediate boost to their defensive line as an extremely disruptive force against both the pass and run, while giving them a long-term successor to 35-year-old Cameron Heyward. Harmon's biggest weakness during his excellent redshirt junior season was his inability to finish plays, as his seven missed tackles tied for the sixth-most among defensive linemen, but there is no better place for him to land than alongside a player like T.J. Watt. This is a fantastic landing spot for Harmon, who will contribute immediately while learning from a seven-time Pro Bowler in Heyward.

Josh Conerly Jr. - Tackle, Washington Commanders (Rd. 1, Pick 29)

The Ducks landed their second pick of the first round when the Commanders selected Josh Conerly Jr. to provide more protection for reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Washington sent a package of four picks to the Texans in March to acquire five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, meaning Conerly will have to slide across the line to right tackle after starting on the blindside for the last two seasons at Oregon. Conerly did record a few snaps at the position during his first year, when the Ducks attempted to get their five-star freshman on the field any way they could at both tackle spots and as an extra lineman in jumbo packages. With 33 ½-inch arms, Conerly's length does come with guard concerns, but Washington has flexibility in the form of Andrew Wylie, who will now kick into guard after spending the last four years as a right tackle.

Terrance Ferguson - Tight End, Los Angeles Rams (Rd. 2, Pick 46)

Ferguson became the fourth tight end to come off the board when the Rams selected him in the second round, making him the highest drafted Duck at the position since 1975. After setting program records for career touchdowns (16) and receptions (134) at tight end in his four years in Eugene, Ferguson flew up draft boards after posting a relative athletic score in the 95th percentile among tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine. He will be able to contribute immediately as a tight end-two in Los Angeles before taking over for 32-year-old Tyler Higbee, who will be a free agent after this season. Ferguson was a steady producer during his career at Oregon and consistently demonstrated the ability to find open holes against zone coverage, which will quickly endear him to quarterback Matthew Stafford. He gives the Rams a high-floor possession tight end, with the upside to become one of the best playmakers at the position, finishing second in the FBS last year with an average of nine yards after the catch per reception (only behind fellow Duck Kenyon Sadiq's 10.1).

Jordan Burch - Edge, Arizona Cardinals (Rd. 3, Pick 78)

The Cardinals added to their defensive line with Ole Miss' Walter Nolan on day one, and decided to double up on day two with the Ducks' Jordan Burch. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon helped the Cardinals' defense improve from 31st in points allowed in 2022 and 2023, to 15th in his second season in 2024. Gannon was the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia before taking the Cardinals job, and is now building his defense in Arizona in the mold of Howie Roseman's Eagles. A freak athlete in his 6-foot-4, 279-pound frame, Burch was able to hone the skills that made him a consensus five-star recruit after transferring to Oregon from South Carolina. He set a career high with 8.5 sacks in 2024 despite missing four of Oregon's games, and likely could have raised his draft stock even higher without the injury. Burch will join a now-deep pass-rushing group in Arizona and should feature in a secondary role behind more experienced players like the recently acquired Josh Sweat.

Jamaree Caldwell - Defensive Line, Los Angeles Chargers (Rd. 3, Pick 86)

The Chargers missed out on John Harbaugh's former Michigan Wolverine Kenneth Grant when the Dolphins jumped on him at 13, and instead waited to select Caldwell to plug the middle of their defense. Caldwell spent a year at Independence Community College before transferring to Houston for two years and ultimately to Oregon for his final season, slowly raising his draft stock every step of the way. At 6-foot-2, 332 pounds, Caldwell has surprising quickness for his wide base that allows him to gain the edge over offensive linemen before overpowering them with his strength. He ate up blocks in the middle of Oregon's defense all season long, allowing players like Burch and Matayo Uiagalelei to shine. Los Angeles is still looking to find its defensive identity under Harbaugh after the failed Brandon Staley experiment, but Caldwell will fit right in with the trench-based, inside-out style of football that Harbaugh has been known for.

Dillon Gabriel - Quarterback, Cleveland Browns (Rd. 3, Pick 94 )

Gabriel shocked many when he became the fifth quarterback taken in this year's class, ahead of Colorado's Sanders, who would later become his teammate in the fifth round. The Browns have been searching for an answer to their self-inflicted Deshaun Watson problem, which was compounded by a torn Achilles that will likely keep him out for the entirety of the upcoming season. Cleveland elected to bring back Joe Flacco, who led the Browns to the postseason as the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2023, while also signing former Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett to be their options under center heading into 2025. The all-time FBS leader in total touchdowns, Gabriel was doubted heading into the draft due to his small stature and advanced age as a six-year starter between UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, but will now find himself landing in a situation with plenty of opportunity. The Browns are certainly not attached to any of their veteran signal-callers long term, meaning a position battle between Gabriel and Sanders could decide who is taking snaps in Cleveland this season.

Jordan James - Running Back, San Francisco 49ers (Rd. 5, Pick 147)

Only a running back class as deep as this year's could have kept James on the board until the fifth round. The former four-star prospect dominated after taking over the full-time lead role in the Oregon backfield during his 2024 junior season, finishing with 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, his second straight year with double-digit scores. While James may have slipped slightly in the draft, he landed in a very nice situation in San Francisco. The 49ers are financially committed to Christian McCaffrey through 2027, his age-32 season, and have a potential out after next year that would cost over $13 million in dead cap. The 2023 Offensive Player of the Year likely isn't headed anywhere anytime soon, but the 49ers certainly learned the value of depth at the position last year when an Achilles injury limited McCaffrey to just four games. There's a chance that San Francisco may look to lessen the workload of their star back going forward, which would give more opportunity for James and 2024 fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo to thrive in Kyle Shanahan's run-heavy, outside zone scheme — a fantastic fit for James' one-cut, downhill running style.

Jeffrey Bassa - Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs (Rd. 5, Pick 156)

An underrated part of the Chiefs' dynasty has been general manager Brett Veach's ability to consistently find contributing players outside of the first round, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers like Willie Gay Jr., Nick Bolton, and Leo Chenal have been the heart of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's excellent units as day two picks. Bassa, who was recruited to Oregon as a safety, developed into one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten over the course of a four year career, initially taking on a starting role next to Noah Sewell as an undersized sophomore before bulking up and becoming one of the most important pieces to Lanning's defenses over the past two seasons. It will be tough for him to find playing time at linebacker initially with Bolton, Chenal, and veteran Drue Tranquill still on the roster, but Bassa can contribute on special teams early while serving as depth in the linebacker room. Kansas City let Gay walk when they decided to extend Bolton with a three-year, $45 million deal through 2027, meaning they might not be so inclined to keep the soon-to-be-30-year-old Tranquill (with only $1.5 million in dead cap after this season) and Chenal (heading into the last year of his rookie deal) on the roster beyond 2025.

Ajani Cornelius - Tackle, Dallas Cowboys (Rd. 6, Pick 204)

The Cowboys have invested heavily in their offensive line in recent years after the departures of longtime franchise stalwarts Zach Martin and Tyron Smith, using first-round picks on guard Tyler Smith, tackle Tyler Guyton, and guard Tyler Booker in three of the last four years. Cornelius developed into an All-Big Ten talent at right tackle after transferring to Oregon from Rhode Island, which is the weakest of any of the spots on Dallas' line. Terence Steele has provided great value to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent who has started the position for five seasons, but has struggled as a pass blocker in recent years, allowing over 40 pressures in each of the last two seasons. Dallas has a potential out to his five-year, $82 million extension after next year, which would give Cornelius his best shot to start at his college position in a competition with 2022 fifth-round pick Matt Waletzko. Cornelius could also make the transition to the interior, where his 33 ½-inch arms may play better, although the Cowboys' guard positions are likely their most secure with 2025's 12th overall pick, Booker, and a two-time Pro Bowler in Smith, set to start.

Tez Johnson - Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Rd. 7, Pick 235)

Johnson became the last Duck to come off the board when the Buccaneers selected him with just over 20 picks left in the draft. Despite an extremely productive pair of seasons in Eugene after transferring from Troy, Johnson fell down draft boards after measuring under his listed size and posting worse-than-expected marks at the combine. Coming in at 5-foot-10, 154 pounds, Johnson ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash that disappointed many, but ran his three-cone shuttle in just 6.65 seconds, the fastest of any player at the event. It's this ability to suddenly change directions at high speeds that made Johnson a successful player at Oregon, and what will lead to his success at the next level. He becomes incredibly difficult to tackle with the ball in his hands, slipping past defenders, and gets by them as a route runner, changing directions suddenly to blow past defensive backs. Due to his size, Johnson will be limited to the slot in the NFL, where the Bucs just selected Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka to be Chris Godwin's heir at the position. Johnson will likely find his way onto the field first on special teams, where his elusiveness will be a weapon in the return game, something he demonstrated when he took a punt 85 yards to the house against Boise State.