Josh Conerly Jr., Ajani Cornelius Headline Oregon NFL Prospects
Any time you have a team with the talent level Oregon Football will bring this season, there are going to be a handful who go on to excel in the NFL.
This certainly rings true for the Ducks this year so today I’ll break down the players Oregon is most likely to send to the NFL for the 2025 draft.
Josh Conerly Jr. – OT
Conerly has been seen as a high-level NFL prospect essentially since he got to Oregon and his play on the field has done nothing to dissuade this.
Following the 2023 season, Pro Football Focus released its list of the top returning tackles in college football and slotted him just outside the top 10 as their ‘honorable mention’.
With a 6-4, 315-lb frame and elite skills in both pass and run blocking, it’s not hard to see how this came to be the case.
In just his third season with Oregon Football, look for Conerly to build on his already lofty accolades and vault up draft boards even further.
Ajani Cornelius – OT
Opposite Conerly on Oregon’s offensive line is senior Ajani Cornelius who transferred from Rhode Island a year ago.
Cornelius made an instant impact and landed fourth on the same PFF list that had Conerly 11th among offensive tackles.
For my money, Conerly’s youth gives him slightly more long-term upside but Cornelius is essentially locked in as a top pick.
He brings impressive, NFL-caliber measurables at 6-5 and 315lbs as well as a wealth of experience in college and elite run blocking ability at the right tackle position.
I’d venture to guess both Cornelius and Conerly will make their way into the first round conversations following good showings in what will likely be their last seasons in Eugene.
Evan Stewart – WR
While senior Tez Johnson has been the more productive receiver in college thus far, Stewart’s traits and measurables project slightly more easily to the pro level.
With elite speed as well as 6-0 height and an impressive catch radius for a relatively small receiver, it’s not hard to see why he’s already getting draft buzz.
I think there’s absolutely a world where Stewart pops this season and heads to the pros after just his third season in college.
The NFL has never been more pass-heavy and this inevitably places a premium on receivers in the draft where we’ve seen more and more of them taken in the first round year-over-year.
Terrance Ferguson – TE
While Ferguson has yet to have a season with truly gaudy statistics, he has every trait NFL teams look for at the tight end position.
His PFF numbers have been high-quality every year of his college tenure and he brings excellent balance between blocking and receiving ability, something that professional teams value greatly in young tight ends.
He also has a prototype build for the position at 6-5 and 255 lbs, making him physically ready for the NFL as a rookie which is relatively rare.
We’ve seen Ferguson make unbelievable catches in a plethora of high-leverage moments and one has to think with more targets he could put up outstanding statistics.
NFL teams will know this and I expect Ferguson to be taken before the midway point of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jordan Burch – DL
High school recruiting ranking is often a good indicator of where a player will be taken for the NFL and Jordan Burch checks this box in spades.
He was rated as a 5-star+ defensive lineman per the On3 Industry Rankings in 2020 and still possesses every trait that got him this ranking then.
Checking in at 6-6 and 295 lbs, Burch’s frame gives him outstanding positional versatility and thus more potential landing spots in the pros.
Burch’s challenge will be one of production as Oregon Football’s depth on the defensive line will make it hard for him to put up elite statistics.
It would be nice for Burch’s sake if he was on the field more and had more designed rush looks but NFL teams have consistently demonstrated a willingness to overlook counting stats in favor of game tape and physical talent, both of which Burch brings to the table.
Jestin Jacobs – LB
Jestin Jacobs is all upside.
With outstanding speed for the position as well as a 6-4, 235-lb build, Jacobs has all the intangibles NFL teams will be looking for come spring.
Jacobs’ biggest challenge will be putting together a big enough sample of quality play to where professional teams can make a meaningful evaluation.
While Jacobs has struggled with health in his career thus far, a healthy season of high-level play should make his transition to the NFL relatively seamless.
Jabbar Muhammad – CB
There’s no substitute for locking down another team’s best receiver and Jabbar Muhammad has made a living at it so far in his college career.
Oregon Football fans will remember him doing an outstanding job in coverage of Troy Franklin when the Ducks faced Washington a year ago.
Standing 5-10 and weighing in at 185 lbs, Muhammad might not have the stature of a typical alpha NFL cornerback but we’ve seen many succeed in spite of this.
At the end of the day, Muhammad has been able to hang with large, physically talented receivers in college via elite mental traits and ball skills and these are both crucial at the next level.
I think he’d be an optimal fit as a nickel corner in the NFL but has made a living covering larger outside receivers in his highly successful college tenure.
In an increasingly passing-based league, the cornerback position is at an all-time premium and this should set Muhammad up well come April.
This list could really have been the length of a novel with what Oregon Football will field talent-wise this season.
Ultimately, there are always going to be players who are easier NFL projections than others but don’t think players not mentioned can’t hang with the pros.
It’s important to also remember that new players will emerge this season and make their cases for playing time at the next level.
With this much talent, Oregon is set up well to have one of the best teams in the nation this fall.
