Matayo Uiagalelei DE/EDGE Oregon |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #10 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/08/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.85 seconds (43%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.4 DOB: 07/02/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #10 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 11/08/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.85 seconds (43%*) | |
| Age: 22.4 DOB: 07/02/2004 | |
| Overall Rating: |
85.9 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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82% |
| Pass Rush: |
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95% |
| Run Defense: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Early
Overall Rank:
#36
Position rank:
#5 (DL)
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| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 2160 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 97/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bradyn Swinson - LSU |
|
90% |
| Anthony Lucas - USC |
|
84% |
| Cameron Thomas - San Diego State |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Matayo Uiagalelei was a five-star edge prospect at Bellflower's St. John Bosco per 247Sports and Rivals who also played tight end, helping the Braves win national championships in 2019 and 2022. As a senior he made 47 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks while scoring four offensive touchdowns, and he was selected for both the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl before enrolling early at Oregon in 2023.Uiagalelei made 18 tackles and two sacks as a freshman, then broke out in 2024 with 10.5 sacks, the most in the Big Ten during the regular season, along with 12.5 tackles for loss, a blocked kick and an interception. He was a first-team All-Big Ten pick by the media. In 2025 he started all 15 games and led Oregon with 52 pressures, adding six sacks and two forced fumbles, and was a Lombardi Award semifinalist. Oregon reached the playoff semifinal before losing 56-22 to Indiana, and he announced on 11 January that he would return.
Uiagalelei has played every game in 2026. He intercepted a throw in the loss at Oklahoma State, had two sacks and seven tackles in the 17-15 loss to UCLA and a sack when Oregon edged Nebraska, and generated nine pressures in the 34-26 win over Northwestern. He has 33 pressures in eight games. Dan Lanning has said he wants all 32 NFL teams to want him because of his position versatility.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Pass rush built on power and length, collapsing the pocket from the edge
- Generated 33 pressures in eight games, including nine against Northwestern
- Two sacks and seven tackles against UCLA in October
- Converts a heavy long-arm into push that drives tackles into the quarterback
- Picked off a pass at Oklahoma State in September
- Wins with a deep hand-counter bag rather than pure first-step speed
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Average timed speed, so he wins with power more than edge bend
- Missed 14 tackles in 2025, though he has cleaned it up this year
- Run-stop production has been modest for the number of snaps he plays
- Sack total trails his pressures, and Oregon's front has underwhelmed in its three losses
Injury History
Injury risk: Low 0 of 47 games missed through injury (0%)
No injury-related absences found in his college career.
Regular season and conference title games. Only confirmed injuries count; redshirts, depth-chart decisions, suspensions and transfers are excluded. Updated 14 Nov 2026.Scouting Report: Summary
Uiagalelei is a power-and-length edge whose pass rush has ranked with the best in the country for three seasons. He led the Big Ten in sacks during the 2024 regular season, led Oregon with 52 pressures in 2025 and has 33 more through eight games in 2026. He wins with a heavy long-arm and a deep counter bag rather than pure burst, collapsing the pocket from the edge and inside on stunts, and his frame holds up well against the run on early downs.His senior season has been his most complete. He has cut his missed tackles from 14 in 2025 to two this fall, he had two sacks against UCLA and nine pressures against Northwestern, and he intercepted a pass at Oklahoma State. Dan Lanning has made a point of his versatility, and Oregon uses him standing up, with his hand down and occasionally in coverage. He has played every game for a 5-3 team, though he has drawn four penalties. He has logged 441 snaps through eight games.
However, his forty is only average, so he wins with power and hands more than bend around the corner, and NFL tackles with heavy anchors will make him earn every rep. His run-stop production has been modest for the snaps he plays, and Oregon's defense has given up big games in losses to Oklahoma State, UCLA and Illinois, with him not always able to tilt them. His sack total trails his pressure count, which points to a finishing issue more than a talent issue.
Overall, Uiagalelei is a high-floor starting edge, a three-down player who rushes the passer at a high level and sets the edge with NFL size. He projects as a second-round edge whose power-based game should translate quickly, with the upside of a consistent double-digit sack producer if the finishing catches up to the pressure.
How other scouting services rate Matayo Uiagalelei (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
44.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
9.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.