Houston Texans select Oregon LB Jamal Hill in 6th round of 2024 NFL Draft

Former Oregon linebacker Jamal Hill was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday in Detroit. The Texans used the No. 188 overall selection on Hill.

Hill is projected to make $4,213,598 during his four year rookie deal, according to Spotrac. It’s an annual value of $1,053,400.

His signing bonus is projected to be $193,598.

In five seasons at Oregon, he played in 60 total games, making 145 career tackles.

During his time at Oregon, Hill displayed a blend of coverage ability and backfield disruption, recording a handful of interceptions and tackles for loss in the Ducks defense.

Hill’s former teammates are also set to earn well

Former Oregon Ducks standouts Khyree Jackson and Brandon Dorlus were drafted back-to-back in the fourth round, and their rookie contract figures have now been revealed.

As the 108th pick to the Minnesota Vikings, Jackson will sign a four-year deal worth $4.9 million. That would divide into a $1.213 million annual salary to go along with a $834,531 signing bonus.

Dorlus’ numbers are nearly identical to Jackson’s having been selected No. 109 overall to the Atlanta Falcons. He will also receive a four-year, $4.9 million contract but will receive a slightly lower signing bonus totaling $831,471.

Jackson, 24, spent one season in Eugene before heading to the NFL, coming over after two seasons at Alabama. During his two seasons in Tuscaloosa, the former junior college (Fort Scott CC) transfer played just under 200 snaps. He recorded 14 tackles and two pass breakups. Jackson played a career-high 59 snaps in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia. Jackson appeared in nine games the following season for the Crimson Tide. Head coach Nick Saban later suspended him for undisclosed reasons. 

He suited up in 12 games this past season for the Ducks, tallying 34 tackles (25 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, seven passes defended and 2.0 sacks. Jackson earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors in his lone season at Oregon, which obviously piqued their interests.

For Dorlus, he ended up playing in five seasons for the Ducks but was a staple of the Oregon defense for the last three seasons. He put up 58 total tackles during that span but exploded onto the scene as a fifth-year senior in 2023. Dorlus amassed five sacks and seven pass breakups — both marks were career highs for the Florida native. 

He evolved from a run-stopper to an all-around EDGE rusher at the perfect time ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft — and the Falcons took notice.

Overall, Dorlus racked up five sacks last season for the Ducks and 12 total sacks in the last five years. Coming out of Deerfield Beach High School (Deerfield Beach, Florida), he was ranked as the No. 896 prospect in America, according to the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2019 cycle.

With Dorlus’ help, the Ducks were ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 in 2023 in total defense. In 14 games this past season, Oregon allowed a conference-low 16.5 points per game. The Oregon defense gave up 10.6 yards per game on average on the ground, but allowed just 0.7 touchdowns per outing.