Why Oregon Ducks fans shouldn’t panic over numerous DL transfers

It was a busy weekend for the Oregon Ducks. In particular, it was a busy Sunday.

With the season officially ending on Friday night after a loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl, Dan Lanning and his coaching staff dug into the offseason on Saturday and started having end-of-year meetings with everyone on the roster.

This, as expected, has resulted in significant roster movement as the team prepares for the upcoming 2026 season. We saw a total of 10 players enter the transfer portal on Sunday, all of whom were depth pieces this past season. We also saw a handful of announcements that starters were returning, most notably with guys like Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, and A’Mauri Washington.

This completes the quartet up front for the Ducks, who will now bring back their entire starting defensive line for the 2026 season, with Bear Alexander having announced his return last month.

Still, a lot of fans seem to be panicking in Eugene at the moment, thanks to the exodus of players on the depth chart. We’re here to calm some nerves.

Why Oregon Fans are Panicking About the Transfer Portal

With 10 players entering the portal on Sunday, Oregon has now seen a total of 25 players enter the portal this offseason — 23 scholarship guys, and a pair of walk-ons.

The panic, in particular, is coming from the defensive line movement. On Sunday, six of the 10 portal announcements came from reserve defensive linemen, most of whom saw some valuable playing time this season.

Blake Purchase, Tionne Gray, Ashton Porter, and Jericho Johnson are gone. All four guys were in the DL rotation this year and were in line to play just as big a role, if not bigger, next season. The Ducks also saw Tobi Haastrup and Xadavien Sims leave — a pair of high-upside guys.

Why Oregon Fans Shouldn’t Panic

Which would you rather have: A starting defensive line that is experienced and has proven that it can be among the most productive and dominant in the nation, or a starting defensive line that consists of promising talent but little experience?

The answer seems pretty obvious to me.

Sure, the Ducks lost a handful of guys who would have played valuable roles on next year’s team, and replacing them won’t be easy. But they also got a foursome of potential first and second-round picks to agree to come back for one more year. That’s not easy to do, and the upside that it brings to this defense is immeasurable.

The Reality of College Football in 2026

If you want to understand why teams like Alabama and Georgia used to be so dominant year after year, then you have to understand that they were able to keep depth pieces like Tionne Gray and Ashton Porter. Not that Kirby Smart or Nick Saban did things better than Dan Lanning; they simply didn’t have to deal with the transfer portal in the same way.

4-star guys like Jericho Johnson couldn’t jump to a different team if they weren’t projected to be the starter. Instead, they stayed put and continued to develop. That’s not to say that I disagree with any of these players leaving; they absolutely should do what they can to get paid and find a route to the NFL. It’s just an unfortunate reality that, in today’s age of college football, having a deep roster of 4 and 5-star guys is nearly impossible for more than a year or two.

Where Oregon Goes From Here

Let’s take a quick look at the DL room for Oregon in 2026.

Edge Rushers/Defensive Ends

Interior Defensive Line

That’s a lot of veteran talent with a ton of production, mixed with high-upside young players who are ready to step into bigger roles. Would it be nice if someone like Tionne Gray or Ashton Porter were listed on the two-deep? Of course. But nobody can fault them for wanting to go somewhere where they can be an instant starter. They are good enough to be impact players and get paid top dollar, so don’t be upset when they choose to do so.

Instead, wish them well and turn to the transfer portal. With the loss of a few bodies, Oregon will likely try and bring in a couple of new players in the trenches to fill in. I’d expect a dive into the Group of 5 ranks, where you can find proven, ready-to-play guys who are prepared for a bigger stage. You also might see a couple of fliers on players from lower-profile Power 4 teams, ready to take a step up.

Regardless of what the Ducks do on the defensive line, the news on Sunday should leave fans feeling celebratory, not frustrated. When the 2026 season starts, it’s not hard to make the case that Oregon will have the most talented defensive line in the nation, with potentially three first-round picks lining up.

Behind those guys, trust the staff to evaluate and find the proper depth pieces to fill out the roster.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What to make of Oregon Ducks’ numerous DL transfers ahead of 2026

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