One of the most pivotal positions in football is an EDGE rusher, and the 2026 NFL Draft class at the spot looks incredibly sporty. While Reuben Bain Jr. and Arvell Reese headline the class, depth at the position extends towards Round 2 with prospects like Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei.
Uiagalelei, the brother of the former top Clemson recruit and quarterback, has carved out his own path in Eugene with 17 solo tackles, 6.0 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in a 2025-26 campaign that saw the Ducks earn a bid in college football’s national semifinals.
Chicago Bears
As the 2 seed in the NFC, the Chicago Bears’ offseason priority will be actually making their defense good. Chicago actually gave up the fourth-most yards per play this year (6.0), but they used 33 turnovers to mask those defensive issues.
Providing an actual pass rush for an emerging offense, led by QB Caleb Williams, that should be staked to several leads has to be a top priority.
Montez Sweat had 10.0 sacks this year, but all other Bears topped out at 6.0. Virtually set at other high-priority positions, giving Sweat a running mate should be a key offseason focus in Chicago, and they should be picking in the 20s, where Uiagalelei is projected to be one of the top EDGEs still available.
New England Patriots
New England’s pass rush seemed to be a grave weakness on paper, but part of the 14-3 team’s outburst has been two totally unexpected contributions there. Journeyman veterans Harold Landry III and K’Lavon Chaisson each had at least 7.5 sacks this year.
Counting on that again might be a foolish move. Especially if their lack of a pass rush sends the Pats home, they’re likely looking to build for the future at the position. Fourth-round rookie Braydn Swinson has barely played from the practice squad.
It’s possible that New England’s first-round investment is a Christian Barmore replacement inside in light of the defensive tackle’s off-field (and on-field) struggles, but Uiagalelei tracks as a front-seven defender that will be among the top names available when the Patriots pick in the late 20s.
Dallas Cowboys
Remember, the Dallas Cowboys have two first-round picks by way of the Micah Parsons trade in September. One will be their own pick (12th), but they’ll also select 19th or later by way of the Green Bay Packers’ selection.
That could break toward Dallas, replacing Parsons’ void at EDGE with the latter pick. It’s possible that Bain Jr., Reese, and David Bailey are all gone by their first selection, prompting them to consider safety Caleb Downs or a cornerback prospect.
If they’re in the 20s, Uiagalelei is the sort of smart, savvy rusher that the team selected in Round 2 last year with Donovan Ezeiruaku. Ezeiruaku had 2.0 sacks as a rotational rusher behind Jadeveon Clowney. Both of Dallas’ first-round picks will likely be defense, and a high-floor prospect like Uiagalelei would make a ton of sense.
San Francisco 49ers
If the 49ers are indeed a first-round exit, it won’t be hard to find the culprit. San Francisco’s 1.2 sacks per game were the lowest in the NFL this year, by way of both of their top EDGEs, Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, suffering season-ending knee injuries.
Bosa’s injury history should be enough of a concern to warrant continued investment in depth at the position, and Williams was always considered a toolsy, raw project when the Niners selected him 11th overall last April.
Here’s another team with pass-rush issues picking in the 20s. Uiagalelei’s physical, smart presence would be a seamless fit on a unit with Bosa, Fred Warner, Dee Winters, and several high-IQ defenders.
Tennessee Titans
I’d say it’s less likely that the Titans select Uiagalelei early in Round 2 just because it is set up well for them to finally address their pass rush at No. 4 overall.
Considering all three teams above them need a quarterback, Tennessee could have its pick of the litter at EDGE. There’s a lot to sort out, but some combination of Bain Jr., Reese, and Bailey will be available there as three of the class’s best overall prospects.
However, if the Titans fall in love with a Makai Lemon or Francis Mauigoa to address a glaring hole at wideout and/or offensive line, their second-round selection needs to be the best available EDGE. Jeffery Simmons’ 11.0 sacks from the interior mask how poor the Titans’ pass rush was this season.
Uiagalelei would be an easy endorsement in the 30s, especially if he keeps wrecking games in the College Football Playoff.
Matayo Uiagalelei Scouting Report: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Top Comps
At 6’5″ and roughly 275 pounds, Uiagalelei is a large, beefy EDGE rusher that wins with a combination of length, strength, and intelligence for his size.
Though lacking an elite first step athletically, Uiagalelei’s “get off” is still quick in anticipation of the snap count. From there, he’s able to use savvy hand placement to swim underneath overstretching tackles that struggle with his combination of flexibility and leverage. That earned him a game-changing strip sack in the Orange Bowl against Texas Tech.
There is very little wasted motion with Matayo. He is efficient in his movements, employing a straight-line approach to the quarterback or the flow of the play, which makes him one of Oregon’s most notable defenders when it comes to stopping screens and counters.
At this point, the weakness in Uiagalelei’s game is a sort of lack of identity. It feels like he tries to win as a speed rusher with excellent technique, but his athleticism and speed just aren’t elite. Instead, I’d like to see him be more physical at the point of attack on some reps to set up his outside bend and surprise defenders at times.
At a similar size and playing weight, his efficient movement reminds me a lot of current-day Joey Bosa rather than the prime version with significantly better speed. Rashan Gary and Za’Darius Smith are two other recent names that impact the game similarly to the best version of Uiagalelei as a pro.
All in all, Uiagalelei is a high-floor EDGE prospect with outstanding football intelligence. You can tell he comes from a football family. Those are traits I’d happily bet on once you get outside the top-20 picks of the draft.
Uiagalelei Mock Draft Data
In PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator, Uiagalelei had an average draft position (ADP) of 34.5 before the season. That has dropped to 45.0 as of now, but might rise through the process, especially after making such a hefty contribution in Oregon’s win over Texas Tech.
The most common landing spots for Uiagalelei are the Chicago Bears (3.5%), the New England Patriots (3.2%), the Detroit Lions (2.0%), the Baltimore Ravens (1.6%), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1.5%).
In the right system, Uiagalelei profiles as a high-floor Day 2 EDGE who can contribute early and grow into a reliable, every-down starter with continued refinement.
