Jadon Canady receives NFL draft attention for Week 14 performance
The Oregon Ducks ' pass defense has been among the best in the country in 2025, and it's been fueled in part by a trio of newcomers in safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue Boilermakers ) and cornerbacks Brandon Finney Jr. (true freshman) and Jadon Canady ( Ole Miss ).
Both Thieneman and Finney have had their time in the spotlight this season, being garnering national attention for their play. Quietly, Canady earned the starting nod at cornerback and has increasingly been deployed by defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi in different alignments due to his versatility. Week 14 was his time to earn some well-deserved recognition.
Though he registered just a pair of solo tackles, Canady picked off a Huskies pass in the end zone, climbing the ladder and using all of his 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame to snag his second interception of the season. He also had a major hand in the Ducks limiting Washington's top wide receiver, Denzel Boston , to just four catches for 25 yards.
The standout performance caught the eye of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
"I've been a fan of Oregon cornerback Jadon Canady all season, and he impressed me Saturday against Washington," Kiper wrote in ESPN's latest NFL draft roundup article. "He hauled in his second interception of the year, and his instincts and overall football IQ were on display. Canady reads QBs so well. And he's comfortable late in the route, when CBs tend to get grabby and take penalties. He never panics, locating the ball and making plays without losing his composure. Canady is a sudden mover and a solid tackler, and I believe he will test well."
Kiper then noted how NFL teams will be able to move him around, using his positional versatility to their advantage in off coverage, press coverage and both the slot and outside cornerback alignments.
Canady began his career at Tulane, standing out immediately as a true freshman in recording 55 tackles and two interception. He spent one more season with the Green Wave before transferring to Ole Miss, where he spent two more seasons — one of which he missed the majority of the year with an injury — and compiled 40 tackles and 11 passes defensed.
He transferred to Oregon for his final season where he's excelled — so much so that Kiper believes he can be an early round draft pick in 2026.
"The third round isn't too early for him."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Mel Kiper Jr. highlights Oregon Ducks cornerback Jadon Canady
