TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PICKS FROM OREGON 5 NFL DRAFT PICKS

With the draft just under two weeks from now, what are some of the best UO picks?

BY JACK AARON • TWITTER @JACKAARON

Not all Oregon Ducks football players succeed after their time in Eugene, but these guys did. Over several decades, the University of Oregon has been well-represented in the National Football League, but which have had the best careers?

In this top-five ranking, we’ll go through the best Duck talent the NFL has had to offer over the past several decades.

Disclaimer: These players are ranked on their NFL success thus far, not overall skill.

1: Dan Fouts, Quarterback

Fouts may be the oldest player on the list, but his feats should be among the last forgotten. He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 1972 NFL draft, having spent 1970-1972 in Eugene. At the time of his decision to enter the draft, Fouts had ranked second in Pac-12 history in passing yards and total offense, only behind Jim Plunkett. He was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 1992.

In the NFL, Fouts was truly before his time. He was one of the first quarterbacks to master a pass-first scheme, led by revolutionary head coach Don Coryell. Due to his mastery of the “Air Coryell” scheme, Fouts managed to lead the NFL in passing yards four straight years, still a record to this day. The passing pioneer was rewarded with six Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro selections and was named a member of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decades Team. He’s also considered among the best quarterbacks to never win a Super Bowl.

2: Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle

Our first defensive lineman on the list is none other than Haloti Ngata. A torn ACL early on in his college career didn’t stop him from reaching his potential. He was still able to become arguably the most disruptive defensive lineman in the country during the time, racking up 107 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. This led to him becoming a consensus All-American and the Pac-10 defensive player of the year in 2005.

His college dominance got him selected No. 12 overall in the 2006 NFL draft. He went on to have a stellar career, becoming one of the league’s best run stuffers. In 2012, he was key to stopping a dominant 49er rushing offense en route to a Super Bowl victory. Throughout his 13-year career, Ngata was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time First Team All-Pro and member of the Baltimore Ravens ring of honor.

3: Justin Herbert, Quarterback

One of the most iconic players in Ducks history lands at No. 3. While this take may catch heat for placing Herbert so low, it’s extremely impressive that he’s even on the list just three years into his professional career. The Eugene native played in all four seasons, proving more in each that he was among the most talented quarterbacks in the nation. In his senior year, he led the Ducks to a 12-2 record and a Rose Bowl win. Herbert took home the game’s offensive MVP with his three rushing touchdowns. All this was enough to get him drafted No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL draft. He burst onto the scene immediately, being named Offensive Rookie of the Year. All he’s done since then is prove that he’s among the best at the position in the whole league, effectively making his case to become one of the highest-paid players of all time.

Buckner lands at No. 4 on the list before his professional career is even close to being over. During his time at UO from 2012-2015 he solidified himself as an unstoppable force. Playing 12 games as a true freshman in 2012 foreshadowed how important he would be to the team. He continued to improve each year statistically, reaching career highs in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (17) as a senior in 2015. That same year he was voted the Pac-12 Defensive

Player of the Year by fellow coaches, joining Ngata as the only Ducks to ever win the award.

He went on to get selected No. 7 overall in the 2016 draft and lived up to the hype. He made his presence known in the interior, racking up 30.5 sacks during his stint in San Francisco. His success would lead him to sign the second highest-paid contract ever for a defensive tackle with the Indianapolis Colts. Entering his age-29 season, Buckner is still considered top five among his position.

5: Max Unger

He is possibly the least-known player on the list but one every Duck fan should know. While playing center for Oregon from 2005-2008, Unger was named First Team All-Pac-10 twice with a First Team AllAmerican selection in 2008. He started all four years during his time in Eugene. He later got selected by the Seattle Seahawks No. 49 overall in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. His blocking translated immediately into NFL success, which eventually landed him a contract in 2012 that made him one of the top five highest-paid centers in the league at the time. His run-blocking prowess in 2013 helped make Marshawn Lynch one of the most feared runners in the league and a Super Bowl champion that same year. Years later, he was part of a trade that sent himself to New Orleans and Jimmy Graham to Seattle. He retired in 2019 with the honors of being a three-time Pro Bowler, twotime First Team All-Pro and a 2013 Super Bowl champ.