Story by
Oregon: What NFL Scouts Think of the Linebackers, Safety Groups
- Story by
- Oregon: What NFL Scouts Think of the Linebackers, Safety Groups
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Oregon: What NFL Scouts Think of the Linebackers, Safety Groups
For good reason, the Oregon Ducks get the most praise for their defensive line, which could boast four selections by Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Advertisement
Oregon's secondary is expected to be one of the better defensive units in the Big Ten. Having an elite defensive line to pair with a solid secondary is one of the best dynamics for a playoff defense because they can sully the opposition's chance of pushing the ball downfield.
But don't look past the Ducks' linebacking and safety groups. After losing Dillon Thieneman to the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Oregon brought in Minnesota transfer Koi Perich, who brings a different skillset than Theieman but can be even more dangerous as a returner.
Jordan Reid of ESPN noted what NFL scouts think of Perich, Devon Jackson, and Jerry Mixon. Perich is considered a Day 2 talent, while Mixon and Jackson could be taken on Day 3 of the 2027 draft.
"Safety Koi Perich was a major addition after transferring from Minnesota," Reid wrote . "He is a fast-flowing, third-level defender who has received top-100 grades from scouts I've talked to despite an underwhelming sophomore season.
Advertisement
"Mixon and Devon Jackson are seen as Day 3 picks at linebacker, with Mixon being mentioned by multiple scouts as a potential riser because of his instinctiveness and consistency in coverage."
There are reasons to believe Perich can up his stock before next year's draft. During the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago in July, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning shared that his new safety is obsessed with getting better.
"The guy's a junkie. Outside the NFL, I think I found that his one other hobby is golf," Lanning said , via Sports Illustrated. "He likes to play golf, which has kind of become a trend for our football team, but when he came for his visit, checking us out, we were in an apartment or a dorm, and I look over at Koi, and I can tell he has zero interest in the apartment.
"I'm like, 'You want to go watch some football?' Yeah, let's go watch some football. So we sat down and watched two hours of film, and I get it; I figured out how you tick and am really excited about this season he can have."
Thieneman used the 2025 season to boost his stock for this year's draft. Look for Perich to do the same, and maybe even fight his way to becoming another Day 1 pick from Oregon.
