Getting Loud: The All-Duck NFL Squad 2025

I’m not sure what Rodger Goodell was drinking, but he has decided to revamp the NFL to where each team is comprised only of players from the same college. Obviously there will be some lopsided squads, and some that cannot even field a full roster. But for the NFL Ducks? We’ve got some swagger.

Quarterback

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The biggest question here is, who starts? I don’t think it is really that big of a question. Justin Herbert almost broke Andrew Luck’s record for passing yards in his first season, despite not being the starter day 1, and has the NFL record for most passing yards in the first 2^nd through 5^th seasons. Bo Nix led all rookie QBs in 2024 in yards, yards per game, and TDs. He will no doubt be a long term starter in the NFL, but on this squad, he doesn’t start. I am building in some packages for him. His skill as a runner, efficiency, and versatility make him too good to keep off the field. Marcus Mariota suffered through too many coaching, OC changes, terrible weapons and mediocre line play early in his career, but I expect he sticks around as a career back up for a few more years before retiring to become the QB coach at Oregon (hopefully about the time my son heads there to play slot receiver). Dillon Gabriel gets to learn from three of the best to ever play at Oregon, but I doubt he ever beats out any of them for the starting gig.

Receiver/Tight End

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For all the talent under center, there might be some challenges stretching the field for this offense. Not that they wont be able to put up numbers. With a QB room this talented, (and Herbert having been able to put up amazing numbers no matter who he had available) there will be some absolutely spectacular showings, but it becomes a matter of who steps up on the outside.

Troy Franklin had a decent rookie season and will likely take a step forward in his second year. Tex Johnson was electric in college and can certainly make magic when he gets the ball in his hands, but his smaller frame might be a liability in the harder-hitting NFL secondary. Traeshon Holden is a free agent fighting for a roster spot (spoiler alert, he should get one) and Johnny Johnson III has been serviceable for the Texans. And that’s it.

The most productive pass catcher is Juwan Johnson, who shifted over to Tight End in the NFL, but he’s a beast over the middle. Johnny Mundt and Pharoah Brown have both been solid contributors since 2017, if never truly broken out. Hopes would be high that Terrence Ferguson continues to be the coverage nightmare that he was in college providing another reliable target. Patrick Herbert gets to continue to be the fan favorite and hopefully catch a TD from his big bother to drive fans absolutely bonkers.

This is also the one spot where I am dipping into the CFL ranks and pulling Dillon Mitchell and Bralon Addison back to the NFL. Mitchell had a career year last year for the Edmonton Elks and Addison is one of my all-time favorites so he gets a spot, because it’s my imaginary team and I say so.

Running Back

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While Oregon has certainly produced more than a few NFL running backs, outside of Jonathan Stewart, few enjoyed particularly productive careers. That may change with the two backs currently on NFL rosters. Jordan James joined the 49ers in the 5^th round of the latest draft and should carve out a nice role in that backfield. Meanwhile, the player he backed up for 2 years has been a consistent producer for the Buccaneers. Bucky Irving went over 1000 yards in his rookie season and is expected to be the feature back this year in Tampa Bay. Powerful enough to fight for extra yards and dangerous in the open field, I expect that the run game is what produces the most fireworks on this offense, especially with the line it will have.

Offensive Line

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If there is one thing you can count on from Oregon the last several years, it has been stellar play from the hog mollies up front. There are more than a few award winners in this unit including center Jackson Powers-Johnson and tackle Penei Sewell. The challenge may be figuring out where to put everyone. Do you move Sewell back to left tackle, where he played in college, or leave him where he earned a pro bowl spot. That means fellow first round pick Josh Connerly Jr holds the left side with Ajani Cornelius a capable backup.

The interior features a bunch of players who have experience at multiple spots including Alex Forsyth, Calvin Throckmorton, TJ Bass, and Steven Jones. Pick your favorites and you have a line that will open running lanes and provide a decent pocket against even some of the most elite pass rushes in the league. That makes me feel a little bit better about the issues with skill positions.

Defensive Line

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The strongest unit on this defense, former Duck D-Linemen include 1^st rounders Derrick Harmon, Arik Armstead, and Deforest Buckner. Add in Popo Amauvae, Jamaree Caldwell, and Brandon Dorlus, and you have a 2-deep of dangerous men. Back them up with Taki Tamani, Casey Rodgers, and Riley Jordan and I’m suddenly less afraid of the “Tush Push”. Armstead and Buckner have been game-wreckers since joining the league and early impressions are that Amauvae, Caldwell, and Dorlus will follow suit. This is the Big Green Wall in the NFL.

Linebackers

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There are currently 7 Duck linebackers on NFL squads, and every one of them was drafted. The challenge would be finding enough studs to control the second level when most of these players are 2^nd and 3^rd stringers at present (though many have NFL starts to their name). Given the strength of the defensive line in front of them, this is almost certainly going to be a 4-3 defense with packages to load the box with an extra big man, rather than LB. Im taking a starting three of Troy Dye, Jeffrey Bassa and Kayvon Thibodeaux (playing as OLB according to roster spot). Jordan Burch and DJ Johnson are also listed as OLBs on their respective rosters despite playing as DEs in college, so they certainly can help load the box coming off the edge. Noah Sewell and Jamal Hill provide depth on the interior as well. While not the biggest bodies (aside from Burch) this is an LB crew that will be able to keep up with most TEs and be punishing to RBs coming out of the backfield.

Defensive Backs

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At cornerback, this squad trots out Christian Gonzalez and Deommodore Lenoir. Both are starters on their respective teams and considered among the better cover corners in the league. Lenoir was a 5^th round pick in 2021 and has fought his way to being the starter with the 49ers. Gonzalez went to the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2023 draft and was an instant impact player. Despite missing 12 games in his first season due to injury, he has proven himself to be a star in what amounts to 1.25 seasons.

Backing them up are four Free Agents from the latest class. Jabbar Muhammad, Nikko Reed, and Brandon Johnson were all transfers into the Oregon program and Dontae Manning was a Duck from day 1, a rarity in the current transfer climate. All four started games for the Ducks, whether by right or injury, and all flashed moments of brilliance (and a few missed assignments).

Safety is perhaps the better back-end group. Led by pro bowl caliber players like Jevon Holland and Evan Williams. Ugo Amadi has proven a capable rotation player (while also playing at corner during his time with the Seahawks, and Tysheem Johnson joined the Bears as a free agent this spring.

Season Outlook

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I am not going to pretend this squad would be without its challenges. There are certainly more skilled rosters in this college-divided NFL but depending on what conference the NFL Ducks landed it, I could see the possibility of a solid regular season and a wild card playoff berth. After that it becomes a question of if they have enough offensive weapons to keep pace with more high-scoring offenses, and if their defense can get enough stops to keep it close.

It’s a team I would definitely want to watch play. Go Ducks!