The 2025 NFL draft is still almost a year away, but it’s never too early to come up with a mock draft.
On ESPN ($), writer Matt Miller decided to come up with his best estimate of what the first round of the next NFL draft might look like and a pair of Ducks happen to show up.
The first Duck to be drafted next year is receiver Evan Stewart at No. 18 to the Los Angeles Chargers where former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert would be waiting. This is Miller’s explaination.
Stewart is a former five-star recruit who is transferring to Oregon from Texas A&M, and incoming Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel figures to get him the ball early and often. Stewart (6-foot, 175 pounds) will compete with returning starter Tez Johnson for targets, but his burst and ability in the open field remind me of Jaylen Waddle during his time at Alabama. — Matt Miller
Stewart would have just one season as a Duck and if that’s the case, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of season he can put forth in order to be a first round pick.
The second Duck to be picked would be offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius sneaking in at No. 32 with the San Francisco 49ers.
“It was tempting to put Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke or Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen here, but the 49ers have to address the offensive line after ignoring a problem area (again) in the 2024 offseason,” Miller said. “In his first year as a starter, Cornelius locked down the right side of the Oregon line with zero sacks and four pressures allowed. At 6-5 and 308 pounds, he has the length and lateral agility to fit the 49ers’ zone-blocking scheme while also giving them a long-term plan for Trent Williams’ eventual retirement.”
If Miller would do more rounds, more Ducks such as Dillon Gabriel and Tez Johnson would surely appear.