UO release – by: Nate Krueger, The momentum of the Oregon football program under head coach Mario Cristobal continued to build over the weekend as five former Ducks were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. Below is a breakdown of the Oregon players who were taken in the three-day, seven-round event, and the historical significance of their selections and of the 2021 draft class as a whole. Oregon 2021 NFL Draft Picks: 1. OT Penei Sewell (1st Round, No. 7 overall, Detroit Lions); 2. S Jevon Holland (2nd Round, No. 36 overall, Miami Dolphins); 3. CB Deommodore Lenoir (5th Round, No. 172 overall, San Francisco 49ers); 4. S Brady Breeze (6th Round, No. 215 overall, Tennessee Titans); 5. CB Thomas Graham Jr. (6th Round, No. 228 overall, Chicago Bears). Oregon 2021 NFL Draft Notables: » Five or more players drafted for the first time since 2015 and the seventh time in program history. » Since the common draft era started in 1967, Oregon is one of only 13 teams to have four defensive backs selected in the same NFL Draft. Georgia also had four DBs taken over the weekend. » Sewell became the 19th Oregon player ever to be selected in the first round. » Sewell is the highest-drafted offensive lineman in program history, and he joined Kyle Long (2013, No. 20) and Tim Drougas (1972, No. 22) as UO offensive lineman to go in the first round. » Sewell is the ninth top-10 pick ever to come out of Oregon, and fifth since 2013. » Third time in program history Oregon has had a first-round pick in back-to-back years, and second time UO has had back-to-back top-10 selections; Justin Herbert went No. 6 overall in 2020. » Among offensive players, Sewell is only the second non-quarterback to be drafted in the top 10 out of Oregon, joining wide receiver Ahmad Rashad (1972, No. 4). » Sewell was the first offensive lineman selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Holland was the first safety off the board. » Holland became the 38th player in program history to be taken in the first two rounds. » Holland is the eighth UO defensive back to be drafted in the first two rounds, and the first since T.J. Ward went 38th overall in 2010. » At No. 36 overall, Holland is the sixth-highest drafted defensive back in program history. » First time since 2015 and seventh time since 2000 that two Oregon players have been taken in the first two rounds of the same NFL Draft. » Lenoir became the first true cornerback drafted out of Oregon since 2015, and the highest-drafted cornerback since Walter Thurmond went No. 111 overall in 2010. » In Holland and Breeze, Oregon had two players listed as safeties selected in the same draft for the first time in program history. » Graham and Lenoir mark the first time that two Oregon players listed as true cornerbacks were taken in the same NFL Draft. » Former Ducks Austin Faoliu (Cowboys), Hunter Kampmoyer (Chargers) and Jordon Scott (Vikings) also signed as undrafted free agents over the weekend.
