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Draftanomics
Prospect dossier

Matayo Uiagalelei

EDGE · Oregon · 2027 NFL Draft class

Public Draft Board rank #39·23 contributing sources·Board as of August 31, 2026
Draftanomics scouting
Preseason edition · August 23, 20264 min read

Master scouting report

Uiagalelei is a long, powerful edge defender who can set a firm run edge and create pressure with length, effort and a dangerous cross-chop. His 2025 pressure production supports an early-round grade, but he needs faster starts and more counters to become a complete NFL rusher.

By Draftanomics · Sources & edition · Print report

01Career And Production

Uiagalelei has played a major role in Oregon's front for three seasons and started all 15 games in 2025. He followed a 10.5-sack sophomore year with 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a junior.

02Frame And Alignment

Oregon lists Uiagalelei at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, with the length to play from a two-point stance or put his hand down as a base end. He can reduce inside on passing downs and use his reach against a guard. The frame supports multiple fronts without requiring a permanent move away from the edge.

03Run Defense

His most dependable NFL trait is the ability to hold the edge. He also tracks down the line with enough strength to close a cutback after controlling the point of attack.

04Get Off And Rush Angle

His first step is functional rather than consistently explosive. When he times the snap, his long stride stresses the tackle's corner and creates access for the cross-chop. Late starts force him into extended wrestling matches and give the blocker time to establish a firm outside hand.

05Hands And Power

Uiagalelei can convert speed into a long-arm rush and walk a tackle toward the quarterback. His cross-chop is the most polished move, using length to clear the punch without widening the path. The power becomes less effective when his pads rise and the tackle gains leverage under his chest.

06Bend And Cornering

He has enough ankle and hip flexibility to flatten from a clean angle, especially for a defender of his size. He is not a low, sudden cornerer who can win outside after giving away the first two steps. His rush needs the hands and stride length to create the corner before he bends through it.

07Counters And Rush Plan

The pass-rush menu remains narrower than the pressure total might suggest. Uiagalelei can cross-chop, long-arm and work back through a tackle's inside shoulder, but the second move is not automatic after the blocker recovers.

08Motor And Range

He stays active after the first rush stalls and uses his length to affect throwing lanes even without a clean win. Four pass breakups in 2025 show the value of remaining engaged near the pocket.

09Coverage And Movement

His greatest value comes from threatening the edge and forcing protections to account for him.

10Nfl Role

Uiagalelei fits as a strong-side outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a base end in a 4-3. He can play early downs immediately, reduce inside on selected passing situations and remain on the field against balanced personnel. More snap anticipation and a dependable counter would raise him from a sturdy starter to a difference-making rusher.

The case for the player

Strengths

  • Length and upper-body power allow him to set a firm edge against NFL-sized tackles.

  • His cross-chop clears the tackle's hands while preserving a direct path to the pocket.

  • He can align as a stand-up edge, base end or reduced interior rusher.

  • Two consecutive seasons with at least six sacks demonstrate repeatable disruption.

  • He stays involved after the first move and uses his reach to affect passing lanes.

The questions that remain

Concerns

  • His get-off is not consistently fast enough to threaten the corner before contact.

  • The pass rush needs a more reliable second move after the cross-chop or long arm stalls.

  • High pads reduce his power and expose his chest to longer tackles.

  • He is a sufficient rather than elite bender at the top of the rush.

  • His six 2025 sacks did not fully match the volume of pressure he created.

Building the fit

NFL role and scheme fit

Uiagalelei can start at strong-side edge in either an odd or even front. On early downs, let him set the edge, wrong-arm pullers and squeeze the run toward pursuit. On passing downs, move him across the front and create one-on-one power matchups instead of asking him to race around the corner every snap.

The Draftanomics view

Bottom line

Uiagalelei offers three-down size, length and run strength, but the scouting disagreement matters. He is a top-50 base end today, with a Round 1 path if quicker starts and a connected counter create more clean wins rather than extended power battles.

Sources & edition

The Draftanomics assessment, synthesized from attributed reporting. Role and development language expresses scouting opinion.

Original analysis through August 23, 2026. Restoration reviewed September 6, 2026; this is not an in-season update. No new Draftanomics all-22 review is included.

10 original sentences are omitted pending further evidence or source-use review. The remaining wording is preserved. Source links support the assessment; they do not represent independent votes or permission to reproduce an article.

View the 4 referenced sources
  • Matayo Uiagalelei — Oregon biographyOregon Athletics

    Official listed 6-5/265, 15 starts, 34 tackles/9.5 TFL/six sacks/four PBU/two forced fumbles and previous 10.5 sacks. Proprietary charting excluded.

  • Locked On NFL Draft — Matayo Uiagalelei evaluationLocked On NFL Draft

    Frame/force, long-arm conversion, existing inside spin, motor/passing lanes and versatile alignment; high pads, limited counters and stiff hips. Source grades and comparisons excluded.

  • 2027 NFL Draft Summer Report: Matayo UiagaleleiGarrett Burroughs · May 31, 2026

    Long reach/firm early hands, power, edge setting, 5-tech/stand-up alignment and improved cross-chop timing; slow get-off, leaping finishes and rising pads.

  • 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Matayo UiagaleleiMason Riney · June 10, 2026

    Stand-up and reduced 4i usage, run recognition, long-arm/pocket compression, backside pursuit, motor/throwing lanes; power more than bend and developing counters. All charting excluded; get-off praise differs from Burroughs.

Read statement references

Every passage remains linked to its supporting sources. Open a section to inspect the assessment and its evidence.

Sources for the evaluation
  1. House assessment

    Uiagalelei is a long, powerful edge defender who can set a firm run edge and create pressure with length, effort and a dangerous cross-chop.

  2. House assessment

    His 2025 pressure production supports an early-round grade, but he needs faster starts and more counters to become a complete NFL rusher.

Sources for career and production
  1. Reported fact

    Uiagalelei has played a major role in Oregon's front for three seasons and started all 15 games in 2025.

  2. Reported fact

    He followed a 10.5-sack sophomore year with 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a junior.

Sources for frame and alignment
  1. House assessment

    Oregon lists Uiagalelei at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, with the length to play from a two-point stance or put his hand down as a base end.

  2. House assessment

    He can reduce inside on passing downs and use his reach against a guard.

  3. House assessment

    The frame supports multiple fronts without requiring a permanent move away from the edge.

Sources for run defense
  1. House assessment

    His most dependable NFL trait is the ability to hold the edge.

  2. House assessment

    He also tracks down the line with enough strength to close a cutback after controlling the point of attack.

Sources for get off and rush angle
  1. House assessment

    His first step is functional rather than consistently explosive.

  2. House assessment

    When he times the snap, his long stride stresses the tackle's corner and creates access for the cross-chop.

  3. House assessment

    Late starts force him into extended wrestling matches and give the blocker time to establish a firm outside hand.

Sources for hands and power
  1. House assessment

    Uiagalelei can convert speed into a long-arm rush and walk a tackle toward the quarterback.

  2. House assessment

    His cross-chop is the most polished move, using length to clear the punch without widening the path.

  3. House assessment

    The power becomes less effective when his pads rise and the tackle gains leverage under his chest.

Sources for bend and cornering
  1. House assessment

    He has enough ankle and hip flexibility to flatten from a clean angle, especially for a defender of his size.

  2. House assessment

    He is not a low, sudden cornerer who can win outside after giving away the first two steps.

  3. House assessment

    His rush needs the hands and stride length to create the corner before he bends through it.

Sources for counters and rush plan
  1. House assessment

    The pass-rush menu remains narrower than the pressure total might suggest.

  2. House assessment

    Uiagalelei can cross-chop, long-arm and work back through a tackle's inside shoulder, but the second move is not automatic after the blocker recovers.

Sources for motor and range
  1. House assessment

    He stays active after the first rush stalls and uses his length to affect throwing lanes even without a clean win.

  2. Reported fact

    Four pass breakups in 2025 show the value of remaining engaged near the pocket.

Sources for coverage and movement
  1. House assessment

    His greatest value comes from threatening the edge and forcing protections to account for him.

Sources for nfl role
  1. House assessment

    Uiagalelei fits as a strong-side outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a base end in a 4-3.

  2. House assessment

    He can play early downs immediately, reduce inside on selected passing situations and remain on the field against balanced personnel.

  3. House assessment

    More snap anticipation and a dependable counter would raise him from a sturdy starter to a difference-making rusher.

Sources for strength
  1. House assessment

    Length and upper-body power allow him to set a firm edge against NFL-sized tackles.

Sources for strength
  1. House assessment

    His cross-chop clears the tackle's hands while preserving a direct path to the pocket.

Sources for strength
  1. House assessment

    He can align as a stand-up edge, base end or reduced interior rusher.

Sources for strength
  1. Reported fact

    Two consecutive seasons with at least six sacks demonstrate repeatable disruption.

Sources for strength
  1. House assessment

    He stays involved after the first move and uses his reach to affect passing lanes.

Sources for concern
  1. House assessment

    His get-off is not consistently fast enough to threaten the corner before contact.

Sources for concern
  1. House assessment

    The pass rush needs a more reliable second move after the cross-chop or long arm stalls.

Sources for concern
  1. House assessment

    High pads reduce his power and expose his chest to longer tackles.

Sources for concern
  1. House assessment

    He is a sufficient rather than elite bender at the top of the rush.

Sources for concern
  1. House assessment

    His six 2025 sacks did not fully match the volume of pressure he created.

Sources for nfl role and scheme fit
  1. House assessment

    Uiagalelei can start at strong-side edge in either an odd or even front.

  2. House assessment

    On early downs, let him set the edge, wrong-arm pullers and squeeze the run toward pursuit.

  3. House assessment

    On passing downs, move him across the front and create one-on-one power matchups instead of asking him to race around the corner every snap.

Sources for bottom line
  1. House assessment

    Uiagalelei offers three-down size, length and run strength, but the scouting disagreement matters.

  2. House assessment

    He is a top-50 base end today, with a Round 1 path if quicker starts and a connected counter create more clean wins rather than extended power battles.

College record & draft context

College production, measurables, experience, and the prospect's place on the sealed Public Draft Board.

Public Draft Board

Public Draft Board rank
#39
Position rank
EDGE4
Contributing sources
23
Movement since prior snapshot
Down 7

Sealed snapshot as of August 31, 2026 · equal-weight aggregation of public boards, minimum 3 sources for a rank · The Public Draft Board

College production

Defense
StatisticSeason 2024Season 2025
Total tackles3734
Solo tackles2219
Tackles for loss119.5
Sacks8.56
Passes defended13
QB hurries67
Defensive TD00

Seasons of evidence: 2. Games played, snap counts, and usage shares are not in the retained data. An em dash means the value is not in the dataset, not zero.

Evidence notes

  • The retained data contains 2 seasons of defense production (2024–2025).
  • Defense tackles decreased in each observed season (37 → 34).
  • The newest college season in the retained data is 2025; the 2026 season is not yet included.
  • No verified athletic testing is included in the sealed dataset for this prospect.
  • 23 contributing public boards rank this prospect; the Public Draft Board places him at #39.
  • The aggregate public rank fell 7 spots between the two most recent sealed weekly snapshots.

Each note restates a displayed fact. None is a forecast of NFL performance.

Experience and measurements

Listed height
6'5"
Listed weight
272 lb
Class
Senior
Age
Not in dataset
Recorded school
Oregon
Former school
Not in dataset
Hometown
Bellflower, CA
Jersey
#10
Recruiting stars
4-star
Recruiting rank
#45 nationally

"Not in dataset" means the value is absent from the sealed dossier dataset, not that it does not exist.

Athletic testing

Not included in the sealed dataset. No combine, pro-day, or RAS value is retained for the 2027 class; absence here does not mean no testing has taken place.

Listed roster height and weight (CollegeFootballData); no verified athletic testing is retained. Bio captured August 29, 2026.

Historical comparisons

Historical profile comparisons are being rebuilt.

Sources and methodology

  • Retained bio and measurements: Draftanomics prospect ingest (CollegeFootballData rosters and recruiting), retained seed data/seed/prospects_upcoming_full.parquet.
  • Retained college production: CollegeFootballData season statistics via the retained player cross-reference; position-relevant categories only; all-zero category rows dropped.
  • Age: unavailable — no birth date or age is retained for the 2027 class.
  • Transfer history: not retained — the page shows the current school and, where the frozen id names a different school, the former school.
  • Public Draft Board: sealed snapshot as of August 31, 2026; per-source ranks are not published under the aggregate-only source policy.

Board methodologyDossier methodologyResearch status

Board position reflects aggregated public opinion; the scouting report is a separate editorial assessment.