Oregon doesn’t have mainstream collegiate recognition, but they have produced a litany of offensive stars, a number of which make the list of the top 10 NFL players from Oregon in 2022.
The Oregon Ducks have never won a national championship in college football, but have had a number of players selected inside the first three picks of the NFL draft.
Marcus Mariota almost became the first Oregon Duck to be selected first overall in 2014, but fell just short.
Of the 28 Oregon Ducks alumni who are currently signed in the NFL, there are a number of standouts.
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Below is the final ranking of the top 10 NFL players from Oregon in 2022.
#10. Justin Hollins, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Justin Hollins kicks off Sportskeeda’s list of the top 10 NFL players from Oregon. He is a Super Bowl winner with the Los Angeles Rams, despite being just a role player at the linebacker position.
As the Rams achieved the sport’s ultimate success in 2021, Hollins made eight appearances and registered two sacks and 14 solo tackles.
In 2022 he has impressed enough to be promoted to a starting LB, making one sack in four starts as well as 12 solo tackles.
He still needs to improve, but Hollins is exceeding expectations for a player that was selected in the fifth round back in 2019.
#9. Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson has a unique build. He wasn’t quite suited to being a wide receiver in the NFL, and in his third year with New Orleans, he is finding his greatest success as a converted tight end.
After seven games in 2022, he already has 202 receiving yards, which is a career-best, as well as 30 targets.
He is a big body at 6’4” and 231lbs which makes him such an attractive target for the Saints’ offense.
In 2022, he has already made 10 first downs and has a catch percentage of 63.3 percent, the highest of his NFL career.
#8. Terrance Mitchell, CB, Tennessee Titans
Terrance Mitchell wasn’t a hugely rated cornerback out of Oregon. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft, but has forged a good professional career for himself.
He isn’t anywhere near one of the league leaders in his position, but he has been a valuable contributor for multiple teams.
His best year came in 2021 with the Houston Texans, where he played as a right-sided CB.
In 13 starts, he made one interception and had 10 successful pass defenses. He also made 45 solo tackles.
2022 saw Mitchell signed by the Tennessee Titans, and he has struggled to find much time on the field due to injuries. In two starts, he has 14 solo tackles, one successful pass defense, and one forced fumble.
#7. Kayvon Thibodeaux, LB, New York Giants
Not one single NFL draft prospect was spoken about more in 2022 than Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Described as the most naturally talented player to come through the Oregon Ducks system, he was always going to be in the top 10 NFL players from Oregon list somewhere.
His attitude has rejuvenated the New York Giants, who started the 2022 season 6-1. In five starts, the former Duck has one sack, three successful pass defenses, and one forced fumble.
Obviously, the Giants will want Kayvon to get to the quarterback more as he develops. But for a rookie who had so many off-field concerns prior to the draft, his return has been impressive.
2023 will see Thibodeaux placed even higher on a list of the top 10 NFL players from Oregon, that is virtually guaranteed.
#6. Marcus Mariota, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Marcus Mariota is the highest drafted player to ever be developed by the Oregon Ducks football program.
Back in 2015, he was in a direct battle with Jameis Winston to be the first overall selection, but he just missed out.
Mariota has been an excellent mobile quarterback who led the Tennessee Titans to an excellent post-season run in 2017.
Two disappointing years as a backup in Las Vegas have taught Mariota a lot. After being one of the most sacked QBs in the NFL, he knows when to release the ball.
In 2022, the Atlanta Falcons gave him a chance to start in the league once more, and he has taken it with both hands.
After seven games, Mariota has thrown for 1,179 yards and seven touchdowns and is playing like a serviceable NFL starting quarterback.
#5. Arik Armstead, DE, San Francisco 49ers
At the halfway point of Sportskeeda’s ranking of 2022’s top 10 NFL players from Oregon is Arik Armstead.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Armstead as one of the first defensive pieces in their rebuild and his talent and longevity have been fantastic for them.
In 2019, he recorded 10 sacks in his most productive NFL season, but 2021 saw him return to his dominant best with six sacks.
Injuries have hit again in 2022, but he remains a serious playmaker on defense.
#4. DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts
DeForest Buckner was set to be another piece of the 49ers’ defense for years to come, but he fell victim to the franchise’s cap concerns and the arrival of Nick Bosa.
The Indianapolis Colts jumped at the chance to sign him and he has been brilliant for them ever since.
In 2021, he made the Pro Bowl after recording seven sacks and 40 solo tackles, whilst in his six starts in 2022 he has already hit three sacks and one forced fumble.
Buckner is a smash-mouth defender. He makes sure offensive players know he is there, and for the DT position he is rather athletic.
His NFL career has been one of the standouts from Oregon’s football program.
#3. Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins
Jevon Holland sits third in Sportskeeda’s list of the top 10 NFL players from Oregon in 2022.
Having been selected in the second round of the 2021 draft by the Miami Dolphins, Holland has been a brilliant backfield defender for the team.
As a rookie, he had 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. His style is all-action, rarely do things happen with Miami’s defense on the field that don’t involve Jevon Holland.
In seven starts in 2022, he has improved already. He has two interceptions and returned both for at least 30 yards. Holland has completed four successful pass defenses and one forced fumble.
His return of 1.5 sacks is sure to rise before the end of the season. Holland is very exciting to watch. His quickness allows him to cover large stretches of the backfield and even make plays when his team blitzes.
Drafted as a player with upside, Holland is starting to show that he could be a perennial Pro Bowler if he continues to improve, and that is very exciting for Dolphins supporters.
#2. Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions
Having been selected seventh overall in 2021, there were those who had Penei Sewell marked as the most talented pound-for-pound player in the class.
His rookie year with the Lions was positive as he was on the field for 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.
Despite his own ruthless self-criticism as a rookie, Sewell never allowed more than two quarterback hurries in a game, and by the end of the year he had only allowed five sacks.
The former Oregon Duck labeled this return as ‘not good enough’ even though he was playing on a poor Lions team.
In 2022, he was moved to right tackle on a permanent basis, and that is where he feels most comfortable.
In seven games, he has allowed just one sack and is developing into one of the truly elite offensive linemen in the NFL. If it wasn’t for a certain brilliant quarterback, Sewell would undoubtedly be at the top of this list of the top 10 NFL players from Oregon.
#1. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is one of the stars of the current NFL product. He is the starting quarterback for a team in one of the biggest media markets in the world.
The Los Angeles Chargers have put their full faith behind the former Oregon QB and allowed him to run their offense.
The results have been excellent. He made the Pro Bowl once and was the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Herbert has improved year upon year. As a rookie, he threw for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns and then in 2021, he threw for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns.
In 2022, he leads the league for completed passes with 203 after seven games, whilst he has already hit 2,009 throwing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Despite the struggles the Chargers are having at blending their talented roster together, Herbert is on course for his best year yet.
In his career, he has 10 game-winning drives and is perhaps the best Ducks prospect to ever play in the NFL along with Dan Fouts and Mel Renfro.
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