Matayo Uiagalelei
Oregon#23 overallDraft Movement
Down 8 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Matayo Uiagalelei is a 6-foot-5, 272-pound edge with a rare blend of size, length, strength and explosiveness that has made him one of the headline prospects of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle. The younger brother of former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Matayo was a 4-star recruit who emerged as Oregon's most disruptive lineman in 2024 even with three eventual 2025 draft picks alongside him on the line. Scouts praise an excellent first step, speed-to-power and the flexible hips and ankles to corner and turn the edge, projecting him as a potential first-round talent. Others grade him as a second-round talent and a top-six edge in the class, drawing a Gregory Rousseau comparison and citing efficient loop paths on stunts, a solid long-arm, and well-timed cross-chops. The consensus board carries him as a top-20 prospect with a projected first-round, top-50 ceiling and notes he can align anywhere from a 3-tech to a 9-tech. Other summer boards place him among the top 30 prospects. He flashes vision to redirect on scrambling quarterbacks and is athletic enough to drop into zone coverage. The knocks are consistency-based: he can be a tick late, lacks one elite trait, and his run defense is still developing. Still only 20, the developmental runway is the selling point. Evaluators see a future NFL starter and impact edge if he refines his pass-rush plan.
The Tape
Strengths
- Rare size-length-strength blend at 6-foot-5, 272 with no bad weight and fluid movement
- explosive first step and excellent get-off to win penetration
- speed-to-power conversion that bull-rushes tackles backward
- flexible ankles and hips to bend and corner at the top of the rush
- refined hands with a solid long-arm and well-timed cross-chop to win the OT's hands
- agile looper on line games who takes efficient vertical-while-lateral paths to the QB
- 10.5 sacks and 12.5-plus TFLs as a 2024 sophomore while leading Oregon's loaded DL in sacks
- sets a firm edge with a wide base and strength to create backfield stalemates against pullers
Weaknesses
- Lacks a single dominant, hang-your-hat trait, profiling as solid-to-good across the board rather than elite
- needs to play more physically at the point of attack
- habit of surrendering positioning and chasing the ballcarrier as a run defender, opening rushing lanes
- run-defense grades lag his pass-rush production and still need refinement
- pass-rush plan is unrefined, with subpar quickness flagged by evaluators
- consistency wavers play-to-play, with youth showing on transition plays
- tackling technique still developing
NFL Comparison
Gregory Rousseau (long, versatile, multi-alignment edge who wins with length and bend over pure bend-speed); Travon Walker (toolsy, high-ceiling power-rush edge whose traits outpace polish early); Jermaine Johnson (long, well-rounded edge who sets the edge and rushes with developing hands); Nic Scourton (similar size and speed-to-power profile)
College Stats
2023 (Fr.): 13 G, 1 start, 18 tackles, 3 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 2 PD; 2024 (So.): 38 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks (led Oregon DL), 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 pass batted, 2 FF; his highest-graded games included outings vs Montana St and Oregon St in 2025
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $544K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Oregon's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
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Measurables
Awards & Honors
First-team All-Big Ten (media) and second-team All-Big Ten (coaches) in 2024; four-star recruit in the 2023 class; grades as a top-10 edge in the class with a first-round projection