2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: A’Mauri Washington (DL – Oregon)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Oregon defensive lineman A’Mauri Washington.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: A’Mauri Washington

A’Mauri Washington (DL – Oregon)

6’3″ – 330 lbs.

Background:

Played sparingly in 2023 before rotating into the defense much more heavily in 2024 (298 snaps, 10 tackles, 1.5 for loss) and then taking over a starting role this season (31-4.5-1.5 over 588 times as of Christmas.)

Positives:

A very thickly-built defender with escalating year-on-year output. Can play any technique from the zero to the three, as Oregon’s defense often uses pre-snap shifts to create confusion. Fires out of his stance low and competes well in the pad level battle. There’s some suddenness to his game, with the first step to threaten gaps on more aggressive defensive concepts. Shows impressive flexibility through his body. For a first-year starter who’s only spent three years in school, overall play recognition/instincts are solid and generally reads keys quickly. A very solid athlete for a player with his size, showing the ability to pursue laterally and chase down the occasional ballcarrier on outside rushing attempts. Does a good job of using his hands to sift through trash and work his way toward the ball. Overall motor and effort are very good. Lower body strength is good and can hold the point of attack pretty well. Gets his hands up to contest passing lanes and has batted down seven passes already this year, showing good timing. Works in a reasonably effective bull rush on passing downs, and the team was content to leave him on the field in obvious passing situations. Does a nice job of seeking out and slotting into rushing lanes, with good closing burst, which could make him effective on twists/stunts.

Negatives:

One-year starter who hasn’t stuffed the stat sheet. Doesn’t appear to have quite the same length as some of the other top defensive linemen in this year’s class. Could stand to play with more consistent body control; has some tendencies to throw his body around or let his shoulders get turned at the line of scrimmage, which happens more often than it should for someone with his size. Anchor is good but not quite as consistent as you’d expect from a player weighing in at 330 pounds; center of gravity rises at times and looks a bit better when he’s allowed to be aggressive and swarm to the ball than he does digging in at the line of scrimmage. Doesn’t seem to have the most refined approach as a pass-rusher; much more of an effort-based player who leans on the bull rush a bit and can end up around the line of scrimmage trying to bat down passes.

Summary:

One of the more graceful of the massive nose tackles in this year’s class, with an impressive combination of first-step quickness, play recognition skills, and range/effort in pursuit. However, he isn’t quite as reliable as some of his peers in the class when it comes to holding the point of attack, and consequently might fit better on a team that allows him to swarm a bit more. Probably not as safe as some of the other selections, but has three-down upside, and is getting early-round hype right now.

Projection: Round 2