Five best fits for Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon in the 2026 NFL Draft

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Five best fits for Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon in the 2026 NFL Draft

Logan Brown, Ducks Wire · Ducks Wire

Sat, Apr 11, 2026 ·

6 min read

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While the Oregon Ducks are widely expected to have two names called on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft , there is a third name in the mix to become one of the first 32 picks.

Ducks guard Emmanuel Pregnon is expected to come off the board at some point late in the first round or in the second round. It would be a surprise if he fell any further, given his athleticism as an interior lineman and the dire need for such players around the NFL.

Pregnon spent one season with the Ducks after transferring to the program last offseason from USC, and he instantly became a vital piece to the offensive line. As the starting left guard, Pregnon got dirty down low in the running game and did a great job looking for work as a pass blocker. Although the Oregon offensive line had its shortcomings last season, particularly against Indiana, Pregnon stood out as possibly the best piece. After not allowing a sack the entire season, he earned first-team All-American and All-Big Ten honors.

Offensive tackles are all the rage during draft season, but a guard who can move in space and mow down defenders in the run game can make a massive difference for offenses in the NFL. Pregnon is one of the top interior linemen available and could wind up as a starter in his rookie season, depending on where he lands. Let's take a look at some of the best and most realistic landing spots for Pregnon in the draft.

San Francisco 49ers

Draft Selections:Round 1, No. 27 and Round 2, No. 58

Analysis:The 49ers struggled to run the football last season, which is uncharacteristic for a Kyle Shanahan offense. It picked up as the season went on and Christian McCaffrey got stronger, but the 49ers don't have much to write home about on the offensive line. The team could look for a tackle given the uncertainty surrounding Trent Williams , but Pregnon would give the 49ers a power option inside and someone who can get out and make blocks in open space. The 49ers have to make an effort to preserve the final prime years of McCaffrey's career, and filling a massive need with a high-floor player like Pregnon would maximize that window.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Draft Selections:Round 1, No. 21 and Round 2, No. 53

Analysis:The Steelers have some uncertainty under center. They could bring back Aaron Rodgers for another season or draft a rookie, but either way, the Steelers seem to be geared toward a run-first approach heading into next season. The Steelers added Rico Dowdle to the backfield in free agency, but lost guard Isaac Seumalo . That presents an opening for Pregnon, whose physical style of play fits in with the culture upon which the Steelers are built. Pregnon is also an experienced player with six seasons of experience in college football with three different teams. Mike McCarthy runs a lot of inside and outside zone in the run game, which is something Pregnon excels at. It might be a reach for the Steelers to take the former Duck in the first round, but also too late for him to fall to them in the second round. In a draft that is expected to have many trades, Pittsburgh might be willing to deal for a new starting guard.

Los Angeles Chargers

Draft Selections:Round 1, No. 22 and Round 2, No. 55

Analysis:One former Duck blocking for another former Duck. Who wouldn't want that? The Chargers had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season, and adding Pregnon to the mix would only boost their new offense. Mike McDaniel also runs a lot of zone on the ground, and adding Pregnon to lead the way for Omarion Hampton would be huge. The Chargers do have a couple of outstanding tackles returning from injury next season in Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater , so the pass protection for Justin Herbert should be greatly improved after taking 54 sacks last season, third-most in the league. However, the Chargers cut ties with their interior linemen this offseason and need to replace them with some better communicators. The Ducks had great pass protection at times last season, thanks to the constant communication between Pregnon and Isaiah World on the left side.

Houston Texans

Draft Selections:Round 1, No. 28 and Round 2, No. 38 & No. 59

Analysis:Houston really had a problem in the postseason protecting CJ Stroud in the playoffs, and the offensive line is among their top priorities heading into the draft. The Texans have already hosted Pregnon on a top-30 visit, so there is some interest, and the Texans have multiple chances in the first two rounds to nab the Oregon big man. Pregnon is very similar to Houston's current left guard Wyatt Teller as a physical blocker down low, but maybe has some difficulty getting to the second level. Pregnon could slide over to right guard, where he started one game for the Ducks last season, and create a massive hole in the middle of the line for David Montgomery to run through, leaving it to the bull-dozing back to run through a tackle or two. Pregnon would also provide security for the future beyond Teller, who signed a two-year deal with the Texans this offseason at 31 years old.

Cincinnati Bengals

Draft Selections:Round 2, No. 41

Analysis:The Bengals do hold the 10th overall pick in the draft, but that's too high for Pregnon's projected draft position. They do hold one of the earlier picks in the second round, however, and he could solve a big area of need in Cincinnati. The Bengals certainly have their problems defensively, which they should address with their first-round pick, but the biggest point of emphasis should be keeping Joe Burrow upright. The Bengals have a potent passing attack, and although Pregnon is an aggressive run blocker, he is still strong in drop-back protection. Pregnon met with the Bengals at the Oregon Pro Day, which is a good sign that they are interested. This is a great fit simply because of how desperate the Bengals should be to get a full season out of Burrow in 2026. They haven't addressed the offensive line yet in free agency, so it's very likely they do so early on in the draft. Pregnon could help buy Burrow more time to find his big targets downfield and become a high-flying offense once again.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five best NFL fits for Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon

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